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Sharps Injury and Body Fluid Exposure Among Health Care Workers in an Australian Tertiary Hospital

Bi, Peng, and Tully, Phillip J., and Boss, Karen, and Hiller, Janet E., (2008) Sharps Injury and Body Fluid Exposure Among Health Care Workers in an Australian Tertiary Hospital. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health, 20 (2). pp. 139-147. ISSN 1-800-818-7243

Full text not available from this repository.

Official URL: http://aph.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/20/2/139

Affiliations

University of Adelaide, Australia. Discipline of Public Health
University of Adelaide, Australia. Discipline of Public Health
Royal Adelaide Hospital, Australia. Occupational Health Safety and Injury Management Dept.
University of Adelaide, Australia. Discipline of Public Health

Abstract

To examine sharps injury and body fluid exposure among health care workers, a descriptive epidemiological study was conducted in a 1000-bed tertiary hospital between 2000 and 2003 using surveillance data of all reported sharps injuries and body fluid exposures. A total of 640 sharps injuries and body fluid exposures were reported from hospital and nonhospital staff, although no seroconversions to HIV, hepatitis B virus, or hepatitis C virus were observed during the study period. Nurses reported 47% of sharps injuries and 68% of body fluid exposures, medical staff reported 38% and 16%, and other nonmedical staff notified 5% and 4%, respectively, while nonhospital staff reported the rest. Hollow-bore needles accounted for 56% of sharps injuries, while 11% of the incidents were sustained during recapping and inappropriate disposal. Further research into Australian work practices, disposal systems, education strategies, and the use of safety sharps should be emphasized to implement strategies to reduce work-related injuries among health care workers.

Item Type:Journal
Keywords:sharps injury, body fluid exposure, health care workers, Australia
Subjects:R Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing
ID Code:4541

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