Needlestick injury in medical students

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Needlestick injuries pose a significant risk of pathogen transmission in healthcare settings.
• Assessing injury rates and vaccination status is crucial for protecting healthcare workers and students.
• Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a primary concern due to occupational exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of sharps injuries among medical and dentistry students and hospital staff.
• To assess the prevalence of hepatitis B vaccination in these distinct healthcare worker groups.
• To compare injury rates and vaccination coverage between students and staff.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous survey was administered to final-year medical and dentistry students at Sydney University.
• Hospital staff, including ward nurses, ward doctors, and emergency department personnel at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, were also surveyed.
• Data collected focused on the occurrence of contaminated sharps injuries and hepatitis B vaccination status.

Main Results:

• During clinical training, 22% of medical students and 72% of dentistry students reported at least one sharps injury.
• Among hospital staff, injury rates varied: 50% for ward nurses, 71% for ward doctors, and 50% for emergency staff over two years.
• Hepatitis B vaccination was significantly higher in students (98% medical, 95% dentistry) compared to hospital staff (79-85%).

Conclusions:

• Clinical students incur needlestick injuries at rates comparable to hospital personnel, indicating a substantial risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
• The high hepatitis B vaccination coverage among students and staff is a positive indicator, though disparities exist.
• Continued vigilance and prevention strategies are necessary to mitigate occupational exposure risks in healthcare settings.