Evaluation of Needlestick Prevention Devices
Abstract
Needlestick injury, the cause of 80% to 90% of the occupational transmissions of disease, is the most critical occupational hazard facing the health care worker today. Six million workers use 6 billion needles annually, and all are at risk of being stuck with contaminated needles. The health care workers who use or are around hollow needles, and therefore incur needlestick injuries, are nurses, laboratory technicians, and housekeeping personnel. Nurses, mainly those working in emergency rooms, operating rooms, intensive care units, on intravenous teams, and in dialysis units, account for almost 80% of those infected occupationally. Though general agreement exists regarding safer needle devices, needlestick prevention devices are the best long-term answer to preventing needlesticks. A more cautious approach to reducing the number of needlestick injuries is advised by some researchers, epidemiologists, and occupational health experts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA268253
Entities
People
- Dana B. Bates
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology