Circumstances surrounding the community needle-stick injuries in Georgia.

Community needle-stick injuries are important public health problem due to concern of blood-borne pathogen transmission. Purpose of this study was to describe circumstances related to non-occupational needle-stick injuries in Georgia. Data were collected from one outpatient clinic in Tbilisi. Medical records from 2002 to 2007 were reviewed. Blood tests were performed on HBV, HCV and HIV at first visit and 6 months after exposure. 25 (54.4%) study subjects were children playing in street/yard and being accidentally stuck by used needle. Most frequent circumstances related to needle stick among adult individuals were recapping or discarding used needle while taking care of family member needed home injections (12 cases). Eight participants (17.4%) reported accidentally stepping on used needle at sea shore. No infection with HIV and HCV were documented. Only one case of HBV infection occurred in female patient taking care of mother with chronic HBV infection. Study suggests that seroconversion for blood-borne infections after community needle-stick injuries is very low. Family members of patients receiving home injections should be informed about potential risks and advised using infection-control measures. Parents/teachers should be educated about the circumstances related to exposure to used needles among children.