AEGiS-11IAC: Needlesticks and sharps injuries in health care personnel at the University Hospital.

11th International AIDS Conference


Vancouver, British Columbia — July 7-12, 1996

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Needlesticks and sharps injuries in health care personnel at the University Hospital.

Int Conf AIDS 1996 Jul 7-12; 11:460 (abstract no. Pub.C.1140)
Sangkard K, Danchaivijitr S, Kachintorn K; Faculty of Nursing, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University Bangkoknoy, Bangkok, Thailand.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the risk factors that can be reduced by proper practices.

METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to all health care personnel (3,600 persons) in Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand in March 1994.

RESULTS: Two thousand nine hundred and ten of the three thousand and six hundred questionnaires were responded (80.8%). During the past six months, 51.5% of the respondents could recall needlesticks or sharps injuries. Of the 2,528 episodes of injuries, 61.6% were due to needlesticks, 24.5% by broken glasses and 13.9% by surgical instruments. Recapping of the used needles was still prevalent and was considered the most important cause of needlestick injuries. About 98% of respondents knew about the danger of acquiring infections in the accidents and knew how to treat themselves immediately after the injuries. Reporting the accidents to the appropriate channel was at very low rate, below 5%.

CONCLUSIONS: Needlesticks and sharps injuries were common in Siriraj Hospital. To minimize the risk of injuries at the workplace, efforts must be made to increase compliance with Universal Precautions. Education and guidelines should be provided repeatedly to render better understanding and practices.

Keywords: AEGIS, Needlestick Injuries, Health Personnel, Hospitals, University, Needles, Wounds, Penetrating, Questionnaires, Universal Precautions, Data Collection, Risk Factors, Thailand, injuries, ICA11KWDaegis,needlestickinjuries,healthpersonnel,hospitals,university,needles,wounds,penetrating,questionnaires,universalprecautions,datacollection,riskfactors,thailand,injuries,ica11

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PubC1140

Copyright © 1996 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.