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Related Experiment Videos

Preventing needlesticks in emergency medical system workers.

W F Peate1

  • 1University of Arizona, College of Medicine and College of Public Health, USA.

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|June 20, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Emergency medical system (EMS) workers experienced fewer needlestick injuries after adopting self-retracting lancets. This safety improvement also significantly reduced treatment costs for these healthcare professionals.

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Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health and Safety
  • Medical Device Technology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Emergency medical system (EMS) workers face high risks of needlestick injuries due to hazardous work environments.
  • These injuries pose significant health risks, including potential transmission of bloodborne pathogens like Hepatitis B, C, and HIV.
  • Associated direct and indirect costs for managing these injuries are substantial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of automatic self-retracting lancet devices in reducing needlestick injuries among EMS workers.
  • To assess the cost-effectiveness of implementing these safer medical devices.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 477 active-duty EMS workers was studied.
  • Data on needlestick injuries and associated costs were collected before and after the introduction of self-retracting lancet devices.

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  • Comprehensive medical surveillance, including laboratory testing and prophylaxis, was provided.

    • Main Results:

    • Needlestick injuries decreased from 16 per 954 EMS worker-years to 2 per 477 EMS worker-years after device implementation.
    • Annualized treatment costs dropped from $8276 to $2068.
    • The switch to self-retracting devices proved cost-effective, with a minimal annualized increase in device cost of $366.

    Conclusions:

    • Automatic self-retracting lancet devices significantly enhance safety for EMS workers by reducing needlestick injuries.
    • Implementing these devices is a cost-effective strategy for mitigating the financial burden associated with injury treatment and management.