Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T07:29:39.610Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Estimate of the Annual Number of Percutaneous Injuries Among Hospital-Based Healthcare Workers in the United States, 1997–1998

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Adelisa L. Panlilio ,
Jean G. Orelien ,
Pamela U. Srivastava ,
Janine Jagger ,
Richard D. Cohn ,
Denise M. Cardo ,
NaSH Surveillance Group  and
the EPINet Data Sharing Network
Adelisa L. Panlilio*
Affiliation:
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Jean G. Orelien
Affiliation:
Constella Group, Inc. (formerly Analytical Sciences, Inc.), Durham, North Carolina
Pamela U. Srivastava
Affiliation:
National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Janine Jagger
Affiliation:
International Health Care Worker Safety Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
Richard D. Cohn
Affiliation:
Constella Group, Inc. (formerly Analytical Sciences, Inc.), Durham, North Carolina
Denise M. Cardo
Affiliation:
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
NaSH Surveillance Group
Affiliation:
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
the EPINet Data Sharing Network
Affiliation:
International Health Care Worker Safety Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
*
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MS E-68, Atlanta, GA 30333
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

To construct a single estimate of the number of percutaneous injuries sustained annually by healthcare workers (HCWs) in the United States.

Design:

Statistical analysis.

Methods:

We combined data collected in 1997 and 1998 at 15 National Surveillance System for Health Care Workers (NaSH) hospitals and 45 Exposure Prevention Information Network (EPINet) hospitals. The combined data, taken as a sample of all U.S. hospitals, were adjusted for underreporting. The estimate of the number of percutaneous injuries nationwide was obtained by weighting the number of percutaneous injuries at each hospital by the number of admissions in all U.S. hospitals relative to the number of admissions at that hospital.

Results:

The estimated number of percutaneous injuries sustained annually by hospital-based HCWs was 384,325 (95% confidence interval, 311,091 to 463,922). The number of percutaneous injuries sustained by HCWs outside of the hospital setting was not estimated.

Conclusions:

Although our estimate is smaller than some previously published estimates of percutaneous injuries among HCWs, its magnitude remains a concern and emphasizes the urgent need to implement prevention strategies. In addition, improved surveillance could be used to monitor injury trends in all healthcare settings and evaluate the impact of prevention interventions.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 25 , Issue 7 , July 2004 , pp. 556 - 562
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Beltrami, EM, Williams, IT, Shapiro, CN, Chamberland, ME. Risk and management of blood-borne infections in health care workers. Clin Microbiol Rev 2000;13:385–407.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated U.S. Public Health Service guidelines for the management of occupational exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and recommendations for postexposure prophylaxis. MMWR 2001;50(RR-11):1–52.Google Scholar
3.Hadler, SC, Doto, IL, Maynard, JE, et al.Occupational risk of hepatitis B infection in hospital workers. Infect Control 1985;6:24–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Kiyosawa, K, Sodeyama, T, Tanaka, E, et al.Hepatitis C in hospital employees with needlestick injuries. Ann Intern Med 1991;115:367–369.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Marranconi, F, Mecenero, V, Pellizzer, GP, et al.HCV infection after accidental needlestick injury in health-care workers. Infection 1992;20:111.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Mitsui, T, Iwano, K, Masuko, K, et al.Hepatitis C virus infection in medical personnel after needlestick accident. Hepatology 1992;16:1109–1114.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Puro, V, Petrosillo, N, Ippolito, G. Risk of hepatitis C seroconversion after occupational exposures in health care workers. Am J Infect Control 1995;23:273–277.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Do, A, Ciesielski, C, Metier, RP, Hammett, T, Li, J, Fleming, PL. Occupationally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection: national case surveillance data during 20 years of the HIV epidemic in the United States. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2003;24:86–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Jagger, J, Pearson, R. Universal precautions: still missing the point on needlesticks. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1991;12:211–213.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Surveillance: National Surveillance System for Health Care Workers. Atlanta, GA: Centers fo Disease Control and Prevention; 2000. Available at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/SURVEILL/nash.htm. Accessed October 14, 2003.Google Scholar
11.American Hospital Association. Annual Survey Database: Fiscal Year 1997. Chicago: American Hospital Association; 1997.Google Scholar
12.University of Virginia Health System. International Health Care Worker Safety Center. Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia Health System; 1998. Available at www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/epinet. Accessed June 18, 2004.Google Scholar
13.Mangione, CM. Occupational exposure to HIV and rates of underreporting of percutaneous and mucocutaneous exposures by medical housestaff. Am J Med 1991;90:85–90.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Hamory, BH. Underreporting of needlestick injuries in a university hospital. Am J Infect Control 1983;11:174–177.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Tandberg, D, Stewart, KK, Doezema, D. Under-reporting of contaminated needlestick injuries in emergency health care workers. Ann Emerg Med 1991;20:66–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Haiduven, DJ, Simpkins, SM, Phillips, ES, Stevens, DA. A survey of percutaneous/mucocutaneous injury reporting in a public teaching hospital. J Hosp Infect 1999;42:151–154.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Henry, K, Campbell, S. Needlestick/sharp injuries and HIV exposure among health care workers. Minn Med 1995;78:41–44.Google Scholar
18.Jagger, J, Bentley, M. Substantial nationwide drop in percutaneous injury rates detected for 1995. Advances in Exposure Prevention 1995;2:1,12.Google Scholar
19.Centers for Disease Control. Recommendations for prevention of HIV transmission in health-care settings. MMWR 1987;36:S1–S18.Google Scholar
20.National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Selecting, Evaluating, and Using Sharps Disposal Containers. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; 1998. DHHS (NIOSH) publication no. 97-111.Google Scholar
21.National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH Alert: Preventing Needlestick Injuries in Health Care Settings. Cincinnati, OH: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; 1999. DHHS (NIOSH) publication no. 2000-108.Google Scholar