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Needlestick injuries during surgical procedures: a multidisciplinary online study.
Simon Adams1, Stevan G Stojkovic, Stephen H Leveson
1Department of General Surgery, York District Hospital, Wigginton Road, York YO31 8HE, UK. rpbgt@hotmail.com
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|January 13, 2010
Summary
Intraoperative needlestick injuries are frequent, with many staff not following safety protocols. Improving protocol efficiency could boost compliance and reduce infection risks.
Area of Science:
- Medical Safety
- Surgical Procedures
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Needlestick injuries pose a significant risk during surgical procedures.
- Adherence to local protocols is crucial for minimizing infection transmission post-injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of intraoperative needlestick injuries.
- To identify staff demographics and circumstances of injuries.
- To assess adherence to and effectiveness of post-injury protocols.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was emailed to surgical staff within a National Health Service trust.
- Responses were cross-referenced with occupational health department (OHD) records.
- Data analysis focused on injury rates, protocol awareness, compliance, and reasons for non-compliance.
Main Results:
- 53% of responders reported at least one intraoperative needlestick injury in the past year.
- Consultants and junior doctors reported higher injury rates than midwives or theatre staff.
- Protocol non-compliance was high (93% of consultants, 67% of junior doctors), often due to time constraints and perceived low patient infection risk. Only 16% of injuries were managed per policy.
Conclusions:
- Non-compliance with needlestick injury protocols is prevalent, particularly among senior surgical staff.
- Protocol revision, focusing on reducing completion time, may enhance compliance.
- Improving adherence to safety protocols is essential for preventing infections after surgical needlestick injuries.