Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 18, 2026
Dried Blood Spot Collection of Health Biomarkers to Maximize Participation in Population Studies
Published on: January 28, 2014
Occupational Sharps and Needlestick Injuries Among Physician Residents at an Academic Medical Center
Alexei Krainev1, Wali Jahangiri1, Sofia Villaveces1
1Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, United States.
Objective:
Occupational sharps and needlestick injuries (SNSI) are a significant and persistent challenge in the U.S. healthcare work environment. With the purpose of better delineating contributing factors for a ubiquitous occupational injury among healthcare workers, we undertook a two-component study of SNSIs among physician residents and nurses at an academic medical center.
Methods:
Retrospective injury data among nurses (N=58) and medical residents (N=63) were analyzed. A 35-item cross-sectional survey was used to evaluate the prevalence, non-reporting, and contributing factors among physician residents who sustained a SNSI (N=76).
Results:
Physician residents had a rate of injury that was 11.0 SNSIs/100 medical residents/year compared to nurses at 3.2 SNSIs/100 nurses/year; a rate three-fold higher. Physician residents in neurosurgery, otolaryngology, OB/GYN, and general surgery reported the highest rates of injury.
Conclusions:
Our results underscore the need for a more comprehensive study to better identify injury drivers specific to the operating room environment.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Standard 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...
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:25Endocarditis I: Introduction
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
01:23Hand hygiene
Hand washing...
01:26Healthcare 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.