Study results suggest that although there have been significant advancements in sharps safety technology and legislation to support sharps safety, sharps-related injuries actually increased during the same time period nonsurgical injuries decreased, according to an AORN Journal article.
Researchers reviewed data from 87 U.S. hospitals from 1993-2006. Of 31,324 sharps injuries, 7,186 of the injuries happened to surgical staff members. After the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act of 2000 was passed, nonsurgical injuries dropped 31.6 percent, while sharps injuries increased by 6.5 percent. Of these injuries, 43.4 percent were caused by suture needle, 17 percent by scalpel blades and 12 percent by syringes. Additionally, 75 percent of injuries occurred while sharp devices were being used or passed between surgical team members.
Read the article about sharps-related injuries.
Read other coverage about sharps-related injuries:
- Sample Survey of Device Use for Sharps Injury Prevention Program
- Top 10 Patient Safety Issues for 2011
- Safety Enhanced Disposal Device Could Prevent Needlestick-, Sharps-Related Injuries
Researchers reviewed data from 87 U.S. hospitals from 1993-2006. Of 31,324 sharps injuries, 7,186 of the injuries happened to surgical staff members. After the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act of 2000 was passed, nonsurgical injuries dropped 31.6 percent, while sharps injuries increased by 6.5 percent. Of these injuries, 43.4 percent were caused by suture needle, 17 percent by scalpel blades and 12 percent by syringes. Additionally, 75 percent of injuries occurred while sharp devices were being used or passed between surgical team members.
Read the article about sharps-related injuries.
Read other coverage about sharps-related injuries:
- Sample Survey of Device Use for Sharps Injury Prevention Program
- Top 10 Patient Safety Issues for 2011
- Safety Enhanced Disposal Device Could Prevent Needlestick-, Sharps-Related Injuries