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

Year 2024, Volume: 14 Issue: 2, 55 - 57, 28.03.2024
https://doi.org/10.16899/jcm.1371032

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.

References

  • 1. Gabr HM, El-Badry AS, Younis FE. Risk factors associated with needlestick injuries among health care workers in Menoufia governorate, Egypt. Int J Occup Environ Med 2018;9:63-68. https://doi.org/10.15171/ ijoem.2018.1156
  • 2. Higginson R, Parry A. Needlestick injuries and safety syringes: a review of the literature. Br J Nurs 2013;22(8):S4. doi:10.12968/bjon.2013.22.Sup5.S4
  • 3. Hussain A, Shah Y, Raval P, Deroeck N. Awareness About Sharps Disposal Leads to Significant Improvement in Healthcare Safety: an Audit of Compliance in the National Health Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic. SN Compr Clin Med 2020;2(12):2550-2553. doi: 10.1007/s42399-020-00624-2.
  • 4. De Carli G, Agresta A, Lecce MG , et al. The Studio Italiano Rischio Occupazionale da Hiv Siroh Group. Prevention from Sharp Injuries in the Hospital Sector: An Italian National Observatory on the Implementation of the Council Directive 2010/32/EU before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022;19(17):11144. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191711144.
  • 5. Shukla P, Lee M, Whitman SA, Pine KH. Delay of routine health care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A theoretical model of individuals' risk assessment and decision making. Soc Sci Med 2022;307:115164. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115164.
  • 6. Reichert M, Sartelli M, Weigand MA et al. WSES COVID-19 emergency surgery survey collaboration group. Two years later: Is the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic still having an impact on emergency surgery? An international cross-sectional survey among WSES members. World J Emerg Surg 2022;17(1):34. doi: 10.1186/s13017-022-00424-0.
  • 7. Vermeşan D, Todor A, Andrei D, Niculescu M, Tudorache E, Haragus H. Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Orthopedic Surgery in Three Centers from Romania. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021;18(4):2196. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18042196.
  • 8. Stojic J, Grabovac V, Lucijanic M. Needlestick and sharp injuries among healthcare workers prior to and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2022;43(12):1966-1968. doi: 10.1017/ice.2021.498.
  • 9. Isara AR, Oguzie KE, Okpogoro OE. Prevalence of needlestick injuries among healthcare workers in the accident and emergency department of a teaching hospital in Nigeria. Annals of Med Health Sci Res 2015;5(6):292-296.
  • 10. Wang C, Huang L, Li J, Dai J. Relationship between psychosocial working conditions, stress perception, and needle-stick injury among healthcare workers in Shanghai. BMCPublicHealth 2019;19(1):874. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-7181-7
  • 11. Bouya S, Balouchi A, Rafiemanesh H, et al. Global Prevalence and Device Related Causes of Needle Stick Injuries among Health Care Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ann Glob Health 2020;86(1):35. doi:10.5334/aogh.2698
  • 12. Xu X, Yin Y, Wang H, Wang F. Prevalence of needle-stick injury among nursing students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health 2022;10:937887. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.937887
  • 13. Bekele T, Gebremariam A, Kaso M, Ahmed K. Factors Associated with Occupational Needle Stick and Sharps Injuries among Hospital Healthcare Workers in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia. PLoS One 2015;10(10):e0140382. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140382
  • 14. Diktas H, Oncul A, Tahtasakal CA, et al. What were the changes during the COVID-19 pandemic era concerning occupational risks among health care workers? J Infect Public Health 2021;14(10):1334-1339. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2021.06.006.
  • 15. Duan X, Sun H, He Y, et al. Personal Protective Equipment in COVID-19: Impacts on Health Performance, Work-Related Injuries, and Measures for Prevention. J Occup Environ Med 2021;63(3):221-225. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002123.
  • 16. Sivić S, Gavran L, Baručija A, Alić A. Epidemiological characteristics of accidental needle-stick injury among health care professionals in primary healthcare in Zenica. Med Glas (Zenica) 2020;17(1):182-187. doi:10.17392/1089-20
  • 17. Mendelson MH, Lin-Chen BY, Solomon R, Bailey E, Kogan G, Goldbold J. Evaluation of a safety resheathable winged steel needle for prevention of percutaneous injuries associated with intravascular-access procedures among healthcare workers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2003;24(2):105-112. doi:10.1086/502174
  • 18. Abalkhail A, Kabir R, Elmosaad YM, et al. Needle-Stick and Sharp Injuries among Hospital Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022;19(10):6342. doi:10.3390/ijerph19106342
  • 19. Saadeh R, Khairallah K, Abozeid H, Al Rashdan L, Alfaqih M, Alkhatatbeh O. Needle Stick and Sharp Injuries Among Healthcare Workers: A retrospective six-year study. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J 2020;20(1):e54-e62. doi:10.18295/squmj.2020.20.01.008
  • 20. Alfulayw KH, Al-Otaibi ST, Alqahtani HA. Factors associated with needlestick injuries among healthcare workers: implications for prevention. BMC Health Serv Res 2021;21(1):1074. doi:10.1186/s12913-021-07110-y
  • 21. Ishak AS, Haque MS, Sadhra SS. Needlestick injuries among Malaysian healthcare workers. Occup Med (Lond) 2019;69(2):99-105. doi:10.1093/occmed/kqy129

Tıbbi Kesici Delici Alet Yaralanma Karakteristiklerinin COVID-19 Pandemisi Sürecindeki Değişimi

Year 2024, Volume: 14 Issue: 2, 55 - 57, 28.03.2024
https://doi.org/10.16899/jcm.1371032

Abstract

: Tıbbi kesici-delici alet yaralanmaları sıklığının ve karakteristik özelliklerinin Coronavirus Disease–2019 (COVID-19) pandemisi sürecindeki değişimi ile ilgili bilgiler çok kısıtlıdır. Bu çalışmada sağlık personelinin yaşadığı tıbbi kesici-delici alet yaralanma kazalarının COVID-19 pandemisi öncesindeki ve pandemi sürecindeki karakteristiklerinin karşılaştırılması amaçlanmıştır.
Yöntem: Çalışmaya 2014-2022 yılları arasında hastanemizde hastane personelinin maruz kaldığı toplam 304 tıbbi kesici-delici alet yaralanma olgusu dahil edildi. Bu kazalara ait veriler hastane arşivindeki kaza dosyalarından elde edildi.
Bulgular: Kazaya maruz kalan personelin ortalama yaşı 30,2±10,7 (aralık: 15-50) idi, 227’si (%74,7) kadındı. Pandemi sürecinde pandemi öncesine göre yıllık ortalama tıbbi kesici-delici alet yaralanma sayısında %34,6’lık düşüş saptandı. Pandemi sırasındaki olgularda kazaya uğrayan yıllık ortalama stajyer oranının pandemi öncesine göre anlamlı düştüğü (%43,7 vs. %18,8), ortalama hemşire oranının anlamlı arttığı (%31,9 vs. %53,2) (p<0,001) ve yıllık ortalama iğne ucu oranının anlamlı düştüğü (%83,0 vs. %68,0)(p=0,035) saptandı.
Sonuç: Çalışmamızdan elde edilen bulgular pandemi sürecinde pandemi öncesine göre tıbbi kesici delici alet kaza sayılarında belirgin düşüş olduğunu, bu süreçte kazaya maruz kalanlarda hemşire oranının belirgin arttığını, iğne ucuna bağlı kaza oranında belirgin düşüş olduğunu, cerrahi servislerdeki kaza oranında büyük düşüş ve yoğun bakım ünitelerindeki kaza oranlarında büyük artış olduğunu göstermiştir.

References

  • 1. Gabr HM, El-Badry AS, Younis FE. Risk factors associated with needlestick injuries among health care workers in Menoufia governorate, Egypt. Int J Occup Environ Med 2018;9:63-68. https://doi.org/10.15171/ ijoem.2018.1156
  • 2. Higginson R, Parry A. Needlestick injuries and safety syringes: a review of the literature. Br J Nurs 2013;22(8):S4. doi:10.12968/bjon.2013.22.Sup5.S4
  • 3. Hussain A, Shah Y, Raval P, Deroeck N. Awareness About Sharps Disposal Leads to Significant Improvement in Healthcare Safety: an Audit of Compliance in the National Health Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic. SN Compr Clin Med 2020;2(12):2550-2553. doi: 10.1007/s42399-020-00624-2.
  • 4. De Carli G, Agresta A, Lecce MG , et al. The Studio Italiano Rischio Occupazionale da Hiv Siroh Group. Prevention from Sharp Injuries in the Hospital Sector: An Italian National Observatory on the Implementation of the Council Directive 2010/32/EU before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022;19(17):11144. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191711144.
  • 5. Shukla P, Lee M, Whitman SA, Pine KH. Delay of routine health care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A theoretical model of individuals' risk assessment and decision making. Soc Sci Med 2022;307:115164. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115164.
  • 6. Reichert M, Sartelli M, Weigand MA et al. WSES COVID-19 emergency surgery survey collaboration group. Two years later: Is the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic still having an impact on emergency surgery? An international cross-sectional survey among WSES members. World J Emerg Surg 2022;17(1):34. doi: 10.1186/s13017-022-00424-0.
  • 7. Vermeşan D, Todor A, Andrei D, Niculescu M, Tudorache E, Haragus H. Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Orthopedic Surgery in Three Centers from Romania. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021;18(4):2196. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18042196.
  • 8. Stojic J, Grabovac V, Lucijanic M. Needlestick and sharp injuries among healthcare workers prior to and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2022;43(12):1966-1968. doi: 10.1017/ice.2021.498.
  • 9. Isara AR, Oguzie KE, Okpogoro OE. Prevalence of needlestick injuries among healthcare workers in the accident and emergency department of a teaching hospital in Nigeria. Annals of Med Health Sci Res 2015;5(6):292-296.
  • 10. Wang C, Huang L, Li J, Dai J. Relationship between psychosocial working conditions, stress perception, and needle-stick injury among healthcare workers in Shanghai. BMCPublicHealth 2019;19(1):874. doi:10.1186/s12889-019-7181-7
  • 11. Bouya S, Balouchi A, Rafiemanesh H, et al. Global Prevalence and Device Related Causes of Needle Stick Injuries among Health Care Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Ann Glob Health 2020;86(1):35. doi:10.5334/aogh.2698
  • 12. Xu X, Yin Y, Wang H, Wang F. Prevalence of needle-stick injury among nursing students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health 2022;10:937887. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.937887
  • 13. Bekele T, Gebremariam A, Kaso M, Ahmed K. Factors Associated with Occupational Needle Stick and Sharps Injuries among Hospital Healthcare Workers in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia. PLoS One 2015;10(10):e0140382. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0140382
  • 14. Diktas H, Oncul A, Tahtasakal CA, et al. What were the changes during the COVID-19 pandemic era concerning occupational risks among health care workers? J Infect Public Health 2021;14(10):1334-1339. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2021.06.006.
  • 15. Duan X, Sun H, He Y, et al. Personal Protective Equipment in COVID-19: Impacts on Health Performance, Work-Related Injuries, and Measures for Prevention. J Occup Environ Med 2021;63(3):221-225. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002123.
  • 16. Sivić S, Gavran L, Baručija A, Alić A. Epidemiological characteristics of accidental needle-stick injury among health care professionals in primary healthcare in Zenica. Med Glas (Zenica) 2020;17(1):182-187. doi:10.17392/1089-20
  • 17. Mendelson MH, Lin-Chen BY, Solomon R, Bailey E, Kogan G, Goldbold J. Evaluation of a safety resheathable winged steel needle for prevention of percutaneous injuries associated with intravascular-access procedures among healthcare workers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2003;24(2):105-112. doi:10.1086/502174
  • 18. Abalkhail A, Kabir R, Elmosaad YM, et al. Needle-Stick and Sharp Injuries among Hospital Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022;19(10):6342. doi:10.3390/ijerph19106342
  • 19. Saadeh R, Khairallah K, Abozeid H, Al Rashdan L, Alfaqih M, Alkhatatbeh O. Needle Stick and Sharp Injuries Among Healthcare Workers: A retrospective six-year study. Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J 2020;20(1):e54-e62. doi:10.18295/squmj.2020.20.01.008
  • 20. Alfulayw KH, Al-Otaibi ST, Alqahtani HA. Factors associated with needlestick injuries among healthcare workers: implications for prevention. BMC Health Serv Res 2021;21(1):1074. doi:10.1186/s12913-021-07110-y
  • 21. Ishak AS, Haque MS, Sadhra SS. Needlestick injuries among Malaysian healthcare workers. Occup Med (Lond) 2019;69(2):99-105. doi:10.1093/occmed/kqy129
There are 21 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Infectious Diseases
Journal Section Original Research
Authors

Emine Sehmen 0000-0002-4267-9889

Esmeray Mutlu Yılmaz 0000-0003-2569-7601

Publication Date March 28, 2024
Acceptance Date March 22, 2024
Published in Issue Year 2024 Volume: 14 Issue: 2

Cite

AMA Sehmen E, Mutlu Yılmaz E. Change in Medical Sharps Injury Characteristics During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Contemp Med. March 2024;14(2):55-57. doi:10.16899/jcm.1371032