Research Article

Evaluation of Sharp Objects Injuries in the Health Care Personnel Working in the Diyarbakır Training and Research Hospital

10.4274/Vhd.08370

  • Şafak KAYA
  • Birol BAYSAL
  • Ahmet Emre EŞKAZAN
  • Habibe ÇOLAK

Viral Hepat J 2012;18(3):107-110

Objective:

Health care workers are at an important risk group in terms of blood-borne infections due to occupational exposure. Percutaneous and mucosal injuries are most common method at increase in this risk. The aim of this study is to evaluation of needlestick and sharps injuries in Diyarbakır Education and Research Hospital during the last four years and to examine the measures taken against it.

Materials and Methods:

83 sharp injuries occurred in Diyarbakir Education and Research Hospital were retrospectively evaluated between January 2008-December 2011.

Results:

Percutaneous injury rate was 93%. The recapping of needles after injection was shape of most common injury (50.6%). The study showed that 57.5% health care workers who had sharp injury used gloves, 13.1% used apron, 3.6% used goggles, 3.6% used mask. Of the 83, where the source was known 59 health care workers were found to be injured with HBsAg positive source (19), HCV positive source (6) and HIV positive source (1). 3 of staff who were antiHBs negative and who were injured with HBsAg positive source were vaccinated against hepatitis B and was immune globulin. The health care worker who contaminated with HIV positive source received antiretroviral prophylaxis for a period of 1 month. Seroconversion was observed in none of the health care workers.

Conclusion:

Standard infection control precautions should be applied and all health care workers susceptible to HBV infection should be motivated to be vaccinated.

Keywords: Health care workers, sharp injury, occupational exposure

Full Text (Turkish)