OBJECTIVETo understand the prevalence of hospital healthcare workers (HCWs) with needle-stick and other sharps injuries, and to provide the basic data for intervention study.

METHODSA retrospective investigation was conducted with questionnaires for needle-stick and other sharps injuries from January 1- to December 31 of 2009 among 1201 healthcare workers in a general hospital.

RESULTSThe total number of needle-stick and other sharps injuries among 1201 healthcare workers in 2009 was 4320, the number of needle-stick and other sharps injuries for each person was 3.58 and the incidence of needle-stick and other sharps injuries was 78.85 %. The subjects with the high risk of needle-stick and other sharps injuries were from the department of gynecology and obstetrics, surgical department, intensive care unit and emergency room, the incidences and the average numbers of episodes were 94.67% and 4.51 per person, 93.09% and 4.46 per person, 85.44% and 3.08 per person, 76.62 % and 4.55 per person in 2009, respectively. The operations resulting in the needle-stick and other sharps injuries were the breaking glass preparation (ampoule or vial), withdrawing needles, preparing sharp devices and performing an operation, the incidences were 46.96%, 30.97%, 25.73% and 14.49%, respectively. Needle-stick and other sharps injuries were mainly caused by ampoules, winged steel needle, disposable syringes, suture needles and scalpels, the incidences were 47.04%, 37.22%, 31.31%, 17.65% and 7.08%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONHealthcare worker are still at risk of needle- stick and other sharps injuries, which was related to the profession, department, medical manipulation and medical apparatus and instruments. Special and comprehensive measurements for preventing the needle-stick and other sharps injuries should be taken actively.