Change in Medical Sharps Injury Characteristics During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Aim: Knowledge about the change in the frequency and characteristics of medical sharps injuries during the Coronavirus Disease–2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is very limited. This study aimed to compare the characteristics of medical sharps injuries experienced by healthcare staff before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Method: A total of 304 cases of medical sharps injuries suffered by hospital staff in our hospital between 2014 and 2022 were included in the study. Data regarding these accidents were obtained from accident files in the hospital archive. Results: The mean age of the staff exposed to the accident was 30.2±10.7 (range: 15-50) years, and 227 (74.7%) were women. During the pandemic, a 34.6% decrease was detected in the annual mean number of medical sharps injuries compared to before the pandemic. In cases during the pandemic, the annual mean rate of interns who had an accident decreased significantly compared to before the pandemic (43.7% vs. 18.8%), while the mean rate of nurses increased significantly (31.9% vs. 53.2%)(p<0.001), and the annual mean needle tip rate decreased significantly (83.0% vs. 68.0%)(p=0.035). Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that there was a significant decrease in the number of medical sharps accidents during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period, that the rate of nurses who were exposed to accidents increased significantly during this period, that there was a significant decrease in the rate of needle stick-related accidents, that there was a significant decrease in the accident rate in surgical wards and a significant increase in intensive care units.