Evaluation of Sharps Injuries of Health Professionals Working in a Tertiary Care Hospital During Five Years

Objective: This study aims to evaluate occupational injuries in healthcare professionals exposed to the blood and body fluids of patients in our hospital for five years. Methods: A retrospective analysis of applications of healthcare professionals to the Infection Control Committee (ICC) between 2013-2017 was conducted based on the “registry and follow-up form for exposure to body fluids.” Results:175 personnel applied to the ICC, and the average age of applicants was 31.5±8. 58.5% of the cases were male, and 41.5% were female. Nurses constituted the majority of applicants at 37.7%, followed by caregivers at 21.7% and interns at 17.1%. Most injuries were inflicted in operating rooms 22.3%, emergency services 18.8%, intensive care units 18.3% and surgical clinics 12.6%. 62.5% of the cases were needlestick injuries, 24.0% were due to sharps, and 13.5% were due to mucosal exposure. The source patient was identified in 144 cases (82%), whereas in 31 cases (%18), the source patient could not be identified. Sixteen of the source patients were HBsAg positive, five were anti-HCV positive, and one was anti-HIV positive. None of the personnel was infected due to the injuries. Conclusion: The number of sharp injuries can be reduced by employing more personnel, reducing work hours, and encouraging the use of personal protective equipment. In addition to providing fundamental medical knowledge, training programs should also encourage a positive attitude toward HIV / AIDS.