Yassi A, McGill M, et al.
American journal of infection control. Date of publication 1991 Jun 1;volume 19(3):129-35.
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]
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