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Effect of Educational Programs, Rigid Sharps Containers, and Universal Precautions on Reported Needlestick Injuries in Healthcare Workers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Calvin C. Linnemann Jr. ,
Constance Cannon ,
Martha DeRonde  and
Bruce Lanphear
Calvin C. Linnemann Jr.*
Affiliation:
Infection Control Department, University of Cincinnati Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio Departments of Internal Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
Constance Cannon
Affiliation:
Infection Control Department, University of Cincinnati Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio
Martha DeRonde
Affiliation:
Medical Center Health Services, University of Cincinnati Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio
Bruce Lanphear
Affiliation:
Medical Center Health Services, University of Cincinnati Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio Departments of Internal Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
*
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 231 Bethesda Avenue, Mail Location 560, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0560
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Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the effect of infection control programs on reported needlestick injuries in a general hospital.

Design:

Surveillance of all reported needlestick injuries at the University of Cincinnati Hospital was maintained by the infection control department for five years, from 1985 through 1989. Data on individual workers were collected, tabulated on a monthly basis, and reviewed continually to monitor trends in injuries. During this time, the effects of each of three new infection control programs on reported injuries were evaluated sequentially.

Setting:

A 700-bed general hospital that serves as the main teaching hospital of the University of cincinnati.

Participants:

All employees of University Hospital who reported to personnel health for management of needlestick injuries.

Interventions:

In 1986, an educational program to prevent injuries was initiated and continued throughout the surveillance period. In 1987, rigid sharps disposal containers were placed in all hospital rooms. In 1988, universal precautions were introduced with an intensive inservice.

Results:

Surveillance identified 1,602 needlestick injuries (320/year) or 104/1 ,000/ year. After the educational program began, reported injuries increased rather than decreased, and this was attributed to increased reporting. Subsequently, after installation of the new disposal containers, reported injuries returned to the levels seen prior to the educational program, but recapping injuries showed a significant decrease from 63/year to 30, or 20/1,000/year to 10. This decrease was observed in nurses but not in other healthcare workers. After universal precautions were instituted, total injuries increased slightly, but recapping injuries remained at 50% of the levels reported prior to the use of rigid sharps disposal containers.

Conclusions:

The three infection control programs failed to produce a major reduction in reported needlestick injuries, except for a decrease in recapping injuries associated with the placement of rigid sharps disposal containers in all patient rooms. These observations indicate that new approaches are needed to reduce needlestick injuries.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 12 , Issue 4 , April 1991 , pp. 214 - 219
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1991

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