Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

A Protocol to Set Up Needle-Free Connector with Positive Displacement on Central Venous Catheter in Intensive Care Unit
Published on: July 13, 2019
Needlestick injuries in a healthcare setting in New Zealand
Marie Fullerton1, Veronique Gibbons
1Waikato District Health Board, Private Bag 3200, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand. Marie.Fullerton@waikatodhb.health.nz
Aim:
The aim of this study was to quantify the extent of needlestick underreporting, to examine factors which may contribute to underreporting, and to optimise the relevant risk management strategy.
Method:
An 11-item structured postal questionnaire was adapted from an existing CDC design.
Results:
The survey results showed that 9% of respondents had experienced at least one needlestick injury in the past year, and three practitioners had five or more injuries in the same period. The overall underreporting rate for needlestick injuries was 33%, which is consistent with internationally-reported figures. More than one in six respondent doctors (17.8%) had sustained one or more needlestick injuries in the past year, compared with nurses (7.6%) or midwives (6.7%).
Conclusion:
The survey identified the level of underreporting and the factors that influence needlestick reporting. This has resulted in a series of recommendations that will help our DHB to formulate an appropriate strategy to manage needlestick incidence and impact.
Related Concept Videos
Standard Precaution
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
Endocarditis I: Introduction
PPE Use in Healthcare Settings I: Donning
Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies. Common...
PPE Use in Healthcare Settings II: Doffing