Needlestick injuries: a sore point
More than one needlestick injury (NSI) occurs for every two days of hospital operation, according to a study in the latest issue of the Medical Journal of Australia.
The study conducted by Dr Michael Whitby, from the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, and Dr Mary-Louise McLaws from the University of New South Wales, describes the frequency and circumstances of hollow-bore dirty NSI sustained by healthcare workers, and the potential cost of safety devices to prevent such injuries.
Of the 1836 "dirty" NSIs reported, most were sustained in nursing (66.2 per cent) and medical (16.8 per cent) staff, with 62.7 per cent sustained before disposal.
"Most healthcare workers are particularly concerned about exposure to HIV. Our experience indicates that Australian healthcare workers are at greatest risk of hepatitis C infection, a disease for which no proven effective prophylaxis exists," Dr Whitby said.
While the study demonstrates an increased knowledge among nurses of possible consequences of the NSIs, the level of injuries has continued.
Dr Whitby said the introduction of syringes with self-retracting needles, at an estimated cost of at least $365,000 per year for consumable items only, could reduce high-risk NSI in the Princess Alexandra Hospital by up to 62 per cent.
The researchers support well-designed clinical trials to provide data on the efficacy of introducing safety devices for healthcare workers.
An editorial in the same issue of the MJA, by Janine Jagger, Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Virginia, Virginia, USA, said that relatively little attention has been paid to the serious risk of exposure to bloodborne disease faced by Australian healthcare workers. Widespread surveillance should become a national goal for Australia.
"Let us move quickly to get protective devices into the hands of healthcare workers, while providing the best educational methods to support the use of safer technology," Professor Jagger said.
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
CONTACT: (Research) Dr Michael Whitby (07) 3240 2595 (B/H); (0419) 725 458 (A/H)
Email: whitbym@health.qld.gov.au
(Editorial) Prof Janine Jagger (0011) 1 434 924 5159 (B/H)
Email: jcj@virginia.edu
Sarah Crichton, Public Affairs, AMA (02) 6270 5472 (B/H); (0419) 440 076 (A/H)