Michael Whitby1, Mary-Louise McLaws, Karen Slater. 1. Center for Healthcare Related Infection Surveillance and Prevention, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. whitbym@health.qld.gov.au
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Needlestick injury (NSI) with hollow-bore needles remains a significant risk of bloodborne virus acquisition in health care workers. The impact on NSI rates after substantial replacement of conventional hollow-bore needles with the simultaneous introduction of safety-engineered devices (SEDs) including retractable syringes, needle-free intravenous (IV) systems, and safety winged butterfly needles was examined in an 800-bed Australian university hospital. METHODS: NSIs were prospectively monitored for 2 years (2005-2006) after the introduction of SEDs and compared with prospectively collected preintervention NSI data (2000-2004). RESULTS: Preintervention hollow-bore NSI rates over 10 years persisted at a constant rate between 3.01 and 3.77 per 100 full-time equivalent employees (FTE) (P = .31). Rates for 2005 (1.93; 95% CI: 1.48-2.47 per 100 FTE) and 2006 (1.50; 95% CI: 1.11-1.97 per 100 FTE) were significantly lower than the average rate for the preintervention years (3.39; 95% CI: 2.7-4.24 per 100 FTE, P = .00004). This represents a fall of 49% (43.1%-55.7%) in hollow-bore NSI, contributed to by the virtual elimination of NSI related to accessing IV lines. More importantly, high-risk injuries were also reduced 57% by retractable syringe use with an overall budgetary increase of approximately US $90,000 per annum. CONCLUSION: Introduction of SEDs results in an impressive fall in NSI with minimal cost outlay.
BACKGROUND:Needlestick injury (NSI) with hollow-bore needles remains a significant risk of bloodborne virus acquisition in health care workers. The impact on NSI rates after substantial replacement of conventional hollow-bore needles with the simultaneous introduction of safety-engineered devices (SEDs) including retractable syringes, needle-free intravenous (IV) systems, and safety winged butterfly needles was examined in an 800-bed Australian university hospital. METHODS: NSIs were prospectively monitored for 2 years (2005-2006) after the introduction of SEDs and compared with prospectively collected preintervention NSI data (2000-2004). RESULTS: Preintervention hollow-bore NSI rates over 10 years persisted at a constant rate between 3.01 and 3.77 per 100 full-time equivalent employees (FTE) (P = .31). Rates for 2005 (1.93; 95% CI: 1.48-2.47 per 100 FTE) and 2006 (1.50; 95% CI: 1.11-1.97 per 100 FTE) were significantly lower than the average rate for the preintervention years (3.39; 95% CI: 2.7-4.24 per 100 FTE, P = .00004). This represents a fall of 49% (43.1%-55.7%) in hollow-bore NSI, contributed to by the virtual elimination of NSI related to accessing IV lines. More importantly, high-risk injuries were also reduced 57% by retractable syringe use with an overall budgetary increase of approximately US $90,000 per annum. CONCLUSION: Introduction of SEDs results in an impressive fall in NSI with minimal cost outlay.
Authors: D Sossai; M Di Guardo; R Foscoli; R Pezzi; A Polimeni; L Ruzza; M Miele; L Ottaggio; V Fontana; F Copello; P Dellacà; M Doria; A Onesti; G Montecucco; F Risso; M Nelli; I Benvenuti; M Santacroce; L Giribaldi; G Picelli; S Simonini; P Venturini Journal: J Prev Med Hyg Date: 2016
Authors: Alice Mannocci; Gabriella De Carli; Virginia Di Bari; Rosella Saulle; Brigid Unim; Nicola Nicolotti; Lorenzo Carbonari; Vincenzo Puro; Giuseppe La Torre Journal: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Date: 2016-03-29 Impact factor: 3.254