Author(s) Yassi A, McGill M, et al.

Journal American journal of infection control. Date of publication 1991 Jun 1;volume 19(3):129-35.

Abstract 1. Am J Infect Control. 1991 Jun;19(3):129-35. doi: 10.1016/0196-6553(91)90018-8. Determinants of blood and body fluid exposure in a large teaching hospital: hazards of the intermittent intravenous procedure. Yassi A(1), McGill M. Author information: (1)Department of Community Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada. Determinants of staff exposure to blood and body fluids in a 1100-bed hospital were examined over a 2-year period. Eighty-two percent of the 799 reported accidental exposures were needlestick injuries, and 18% were cutaneous or mucous membrane splashes. Nurses and nursing students incurred 78.8% of the exposures; respiratory technologists and laboratory personnel, 9.2%; medical personnel, 7.5%; and support staff, 4.2%. Rate of exposure per 100,000 hours worked showed nursing students to be at particularly high risk, highlighting the need for specific instruction. Analysis of events leading to needlestick-related exposures revealed that the heparin lock intermittent intravenous procedure was involved in 26%; recapping accounted for 17%; improper disposal, 15%; manipulating equipment, 14%; phlebotomy, 12%; and other needlestick events, 16%. Ocular splashes and spills onto nonintact skin each accounted for 50% of the total number of non-needlestick-related exposures. This study revealed the hazardous nature of the intermittent intravenous procedure, prompting specific revisions in this procedure as well as promoting point-of-use sharps disposal and other preventive measures. DOI: 10.1016/0196-6553(91)90018-8 PMID: 1863001 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

Source ID (e.g. PMID): 1863001