A new system for needlestick injuries and its evaluation.
Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. F11722)
Miura TM, Kasai SK, Kojima YK, Watanabe TW, Koibuchi TK, Suzuki MS Haga Red Cross Hospital, Tochigi, Japan
[Issues] In our hospital there was the manual for needlestick injuries, but it was somewhat complicated to follow and only a few staffs with the accident reported to the hospital. Besides our hospital is a base hospital for AIDS treatment, so we must also correspond with the needlestick injuries related to HIV in the neighboring hospitals. Therefore we adopted a new method using envelopes for needlestick injuries 2 years ago. For maintaining a method for needlestick injuries, it is very important to increase the rate of reporting numbers to take measures to decrease accidents. So we report this new method and its evaluation through a questionnaire. [Description] In case of needlestick injuries a staff with the injury first takes the proper steps and goes to the emergency room to take the envelope in which there are all necessary documents. The necessary blood tests are done anonymously and urgently, and the staff with the injury receives necessary treatment with the help of the infection control doctor. After 2 years we obtained information through a questionnaire. [Lessons learned] After starting this method, reporting numbers of accidents increased up to 3 times and the rate of consulting after the accident also increased. We could establish the method for needlestick injuries in the neighboring hospitals and the cost for this method was very low. Through a questionnaire two-thirds of staffs have experienced needlestick injuries, however a quarter of them din not understand the system. [Recommendations] We must repeat staff education and investigate the causes of accidents and establish a preventive method.
Keywords: AEGIS, Needlestick Injuries, Evaluation Studies, Infection Control, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Infection Control Practitioners, Questionnaires, methods
