[Management of needlestick injuries for healthcare workers in hospitals]

The needlestick injury (NSI) has been one of the major issues in the protection of the healthcare workers from the occupationally related blood borne pathogen infection, and vigorous preventive action has been practiced worldwide. In the United Sates, its preventive practices have been proposed nationwide by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) providing the guidelines since mid-1980s when HBV and especially HIV infections were reported amomg healthcare workers. The hospitals were required to prepare the hard system to discard the blood contaminated sharp instruments and needles and to keep the official records of related injuries. It has been well recognized in Japan that we are facing a large numbers of NSIs, and the occupational infection from bloodborne pathogens is one of the serious problems in medical care.