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At least 757 records · Page 42Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

A follow-up evaluation to a needle-free i.v. system.

In 1989, one hospital noted a high rate of puncture wounds among healthcare workers, many injuries considered preventable. Beginning in 1990, strategies were developed in conjunction with the hospital's Blood and Body Fluid Exposure Task Force. In 1991, the hospital instituted a needle-free system in addition to employee and product educational programs. The study's results show a significant decrease in the number of injuries.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2003

Preventability of percutaneous injuries in healthcare workers: a year-long survey in Italy.

The aim of the study was to examine the preventability of percutaneous injuries either through the adoption of correct behaviour or by the use of needles with safety features. We analysed the report forms of occupational needlestick or sharps injuries in a sample of healthcare workers exposed to the risk of percutaneous injuries in the period between 1 June 2000 and 31 May 2001; the forms were returned to the regional SIROH (Italian Study on Occupational Exposure to HIV) centre in which all hospitals of the Piemonte region (Italy) participate. Percutaneous injuries caused by needles (injection, phlebotomy, infusion), suture needles and scalpels were analysed; three samples were extracted according to the type of device that caused the injury. In the sample of 439 needlestick-related percutaneous injuries, 74% were caused by incorrect health worker behaviour and 26% were unpreventable, seventy-nine percent of accidents caused by incorrect behaviour and 24% of accidents could have been prevented by using needles with safety features. In the sample of 221 suture needle and 114 scalpel injuries, incorrect health worker behaviour was identified in 26.2% and 14%, respectively, and unpreventable causes in 73.8% and 50.9%, respectively. A high rate of percutaneous injuries, especially those involving needles for injection, phlebotomy, infusion, and scalpels, could be prevented by adopting safe work behaviour practices and using personal protection equipment. The introduction of devices with safety features could lead to a significant reduction in the number of injuries from needles.

Health Personnel↗
PubMed2003

Health professionals' knowledge of prevention strategies and protocol following percutaneous injury.

Prevention strategies and protocols for the management of percutaneous injuries are developed for the purpose of preventing transmission of HIV and other infections. However, implementation thereof requires health professionals to be conversant with the content of protocols and ways to prevent percutaneous injuries. The purpose of the study was to determine health professionals' knowledge of prevention strategies and protocols following percutaneous injury. The purpose was addressed within a quantitative survey design. Data were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire. The study was conducted at a public-sector tertiary academic hospital in Gauteng. Seven units within the hospital were randomly selected for investigation. These included, trauma, intensive care, medical, surgical, maternity, theatre and paediatrics. A population of 800 health professionals worked within the sampled units. Health professionals were stratified according to the following three categories, doctors, registered and enrolled nurses and medical and nursing students. A sample size of 200 health professionals was purposively selected of which a response rate of 79.5% (n = 159) was achieved. The sample consisted of 76.7% (n = 122) registered and enrolled nurses, 13.2% (n = 21) doctors and 8.8% (n = 14) medical and nursing students; 1.3% (n = 2) did not specify their health professional category. Awareness of the existence of a protocol for percutaneous injury amounted to 96.2% (n = 153). General knowledge of the contents of the protocol reflected a different picture; only 26.4% (n = 42) of health professionals could accurately quote the procedure following a percutaneous injury as recommended by the South African Institute of Medical Research (SAIMR) protocol. The lack of knowledge of the existence of a protocol was most evident in the medical and surgical units. A total of 16.4% (n = 26) of health professionals reported having sustained a percutaneous injury. A doctor (33.3%) was more likely to sustain a percutaneous injury than a nurse (15.6%). Intensive care units reported the highest incidence of percutaneous injuries (31%; n = 9). Health professionals were unlikely to report a percutaneous injury; as only 53.8% (n = 14) reported the injury. The results of this research indicate that although knowledge of protocol and prevention strategies was inadequate these alone are insufficient to reduce the incidence of percutaneous injury.

Blood-Borne Pathogens↗
PubMed1996

Accidental injuries associated with nonhuman primate exposure at two regional primate research centers (USA): 1988-1993.

Although occupationally acquired zoonoses of nonhuman primates have been well documented, the epidemiology of work-related injuries associated with occupational exposure to nonhuman primates has not been studied. To investigate such injuries, we retrospectively reviewed injury records at one regional primate research center and distributed a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire to at-risk personnel at two centers. Records of bite, animal-inflicted scratch, needlestick, cut, and mucous membrane exposure injuries were reviewed at one center for the 5-year period 1988 to 1993 to determine incidence and frequency of injuries and to identify possible risk factors. A total of 261 injuries were reported during this period, with an annual incidence for all injuries combined ranging from 43.5 to 65.5 injuries per 100,000 person workdays (pwd) at risk. For specific injuries the highest incidence was observed for animal-inflicted scratches and bites, with a rate of 82 and 81 per 100,000 pwd respectively. The job category Veterinary Resident was found to have the highest incidence for needlestick injuries (547 per 100,000 pwd), scratches (239 per 100,000 pwd), and cuts (171 per 100,000 pwd). The highest rates for bites were observed in the job categories Animal Health Technician and Animal Technician, with 171 and 150 per 100,000 pwd respectively; the category Staff Veterinarian had the highest rate of mucous membrane exposures (71 per 100,000 pwd). The frequency of all injuries was greatest in personnel employed < or = 2 years. Questionnaire responses indicated that having > 20 h per week of contact with nonhuman primates or contact with more than 50 nonhuman primates per week was associated with a significantly increased risk of bites, animal-inflicted scratches, needlesticks, and mucous membrane exposures. In addition, data analysis indicated that under-reporting of work-related injuries was high; 59% of scratches, 50% of mucous membrane exposures, 45% of cuts, 37% of bites, and 20% of needlestick injuries went unreported. Results of this study identify job categories with a high incidence of specific injuries, for which additional targeted training and prevention programs may be beneficial, as well as providing quantitative baseline data for evaluating the effectiveness of any new safety programs or practices.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Risks and effects of sharps injuries.

Nurses face the risk of exposure to blood-borne infections if they suffer a needlestick or other injury from sharp devices such as lancets, scalpels and razors. In order to minimise their risk of contracting viruses such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, or other infections, risk assessment exercises must be undertaken so that safer systems of work can be implemented to protect nurses and other health care professionals.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Primary use of silicone oil tamponade in the management of perforating globe injury secondary to inadvertent local anaesthesia injection for ophthalmic surgery.

Perforating and penetrating globe injuries secondary to peribulbar and retrobulbar anaesthesia are often complicated by vitreous haemorrhage and retinal detachment. We describe the effectiveness of primary silicone oil tamponade in the repair of three perforated globes secondary to local anaesthesia for ophthalmic surgery. Three patients with axial myopia had peribulbar and retrobulbar anaesthesia for extracapsular cataract extraction (two patients) and cryotherapy (one patient). All eyes sustained a vitreous haemorrhage obscuring the view to the fundus. Retinal detachments were detected by B-scan ultrasound. In all eyes, scleral buckling, pars plana vitrectomy and silicone oil tamponade were performed as a primary surgical procedure. All the patients had complete anatomic reposition. In two patients, after two years follow-up, visual acuity was between 6/12 to 6/36 with the retina attached and no proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). The third patient had blind painful eye and enucleation was performed. Primary use of silicone oil tamponade, in the management of perforated globe with retinal detachment due to local anaesthesia injection, is recommended.

Adult↗