Needlestick and Sharps Injuries Among Healthcare Workers: An 8-Year Infection Control Perspective on Preventable...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Infection Control
• Healthcare Epidemiology

Background:

• Needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) represent a significant occupational hazard for healthcare workers (HCWs).
• Limited data exist on the preventability, recurrence, and temporal trends of NSIs, particularly concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for enhancing healthcare worker safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the incidence, mechanisms, and preventability of NSIs in a tertiary-care hospital setting.
• To identify trends in NSIs over time, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To provide data-driven recommendations for reducing NSIs and improving healthcare worker safety.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 354 NSI events reported between 2018 and 2025.
• Classification of injury mechanisms and assessment of preventability using predefined criteria.
• Statistical analysis using Poisson and multinomial logistic regression models to determine risk factors and preventability.

Main Results:

• Nurses exhibited a higher incidence of NSIs compared to physicians (IRR 1.84).
• Hollow-bore needles were implicated in 83.6% of injuries; procedural injuries were most common (48.0%).
• A significant proportion of injuries were deemed preventable (42.4%) or partially preventable (48.0%), with cleaning staff at higher risk for preventable injuries. Incidence declined post-pandemic.

Conclusions:

• Mechanism-based classification reveals a substantial number of preventable NSIs.
• Targeted infection control interventions focusing on modifiable factors like procedural safety and waste management are essential.
• Reducing preventable NSIs can significantly improve the safety of healthcare workers.