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Needlestick Injuries in Nursing Homes: The Prominent Role of Insulin Pens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Philippe Kiss ,
Marc De Meester  and
Lutgart Braeckman
Philippe Kiss*
Affiliation:
Securex, Occupational Health Service, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Marc De Meester
Affiliation:
Securex, Occupational Health Service, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Lutgart Braeckman
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
*
Securex Occupational Health Service, Vogelmarkt 11, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium ([email protected])
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Abstract

Causes and circumstances related to 162 needlestick injuries in nursing homes were analyzed. In addition to nurses, geriatrics helpers were found to be an important occupational group at risk. Insulin pens were the most frequent cause of needlestick injuries among nursing personnel. Insulin pens are a major instrument involved with unsafe needle-handling practices.

Type
Concise Communications
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 29 , Issue 12 , December 2008 , pp. 1192 - 1194
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2008

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