Sharps disposal in the ED: Simple techniques and equipment

Infectious Disease Considerations for the Operating Room

“…81,82 This also emphasizes the need for meticulous handling and disposal of needles and other sharp instruments, as well as the use of special "sharps boxes" designed to minimize accidental needlesticks (e.g., "mailbox"-type boxes that do not allow the hand to enter the disposal area). [83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95][96][97][98] The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that in the United States there are approximately 385,000 cutting and piercing accidents annually among HCP in hospitals; 25% of these occur in the OR. 77 However, the actual prevalence is thought to be much greater, because many of these events are unreported.…”