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Needlestick and sharps injuries among health-care workers in Taiwan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 1999

Y. L. GUO ,
J. SHIAO ,
Y.-C. CHUANG  and
K.-Y. HUANG
Y. L. GUO
Affiliation:
Environmental and Occupational Health, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan Center for Occupational Health, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan
J. SHIAO
Affiliation:
Center for Occupational Health, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan Nursing Department, China Junior College of Medical Technology, Tainan, Taiwan School of Health Services Management, Faculty of Medicine, The University of New South Wales, Australia
Y.-C. CHUANG
Affiliation:
Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan, Taiwan
K.-Y. HUANG
Affiliation:
Microbiology and Immunology, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, 138, Sheng-Li Road, Tainan, Taiwan
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Abstract

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Sharps injuries are a major cause of transmission of hepatitis B and C viruses and human immunodeficiency virus in health-care workers. To determine the yearly incidence and causes of sharps injuries in health-care workers in Taiwan, we conducted a questionnaire survey in a total of 8645 health care workers, including physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, and cleaners, from teaching hospitals of various sizes. The reported incidence of needlestick and other sharps injuries was 1·30 and 1·21 per person in the past 12 months, respectively. Of most recent episodes of needlestick/sharps injury, 52·0% were caused by ordinary syringe needles, usually in the patient units. The most frequently reported circumstances of needlestick were recapping of needles, and those of sharps injuries were opening of ampoules/vials. Of needles which stuck the health-care workers, 54·8% had been used in patients, 8·2% of whom were known to have hepatitis B or C, syphilis, or human immunodeficiency virus infection. Sharps injuries in health-care workers in Taiwan occur more frequently than generally thought and risks of contracting blood-borne infectious diseases as a result are very high.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 122 , Issue 2 , April 1999 , pp. 259 - 265
Copyright
© 1999 Cambridge University Press