Prevalence of Needle Stick Injuries and Compliance to Infection Control Guidelines Among Health Care Workers in a Teaching Hospital, Malaysia
- Author:
MZA Hamid
;
NA Aziz
;
WB Lim
;
SLM Salleh
;
SNS Rahman
;
R Anita
;
O Norlijah
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Needle stick injury, health care workers, infection control guideline
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences
2011;7(1):3-8
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: Health care workers (HCW) are constantly exposed to blood-borne illnesses through
needle stick injuries (NSI). Despite the increasing trend of NSI, evidence regarding the actual practice
of universal precautions among these HCWs is lacking. This study assessed the practice of universal
precautions towards prevention of NSI among HCWs in a teaching hospital setting. Methods: This
cross-sectional survey involved a newly-designed self-completed questionnaire assessing demographic
data, exposure to NSI and practice of universal precautions. Questionnaires were distributed to every
ward and completed questionnaires were collected after a period of 7 days. Results: A total of 215
HCWs responded to the survey. 35.8% were exposed to bodily fluid, with 22.3% had NSI in the last
12 months. Blood taking was the commonest procedure associated with NSI. Of practices of universal
precautions, recapping needle and removing needle from syringe were still wrongly practiced by the
HCWs assessed. Conclusion: NSI among HCW are still common despite the introduction of universal
precautions in our hospital. Incorrect practices in handling sharps should be looked into in order to
reduce the incidence of blood-borne illnesses through NSI in the hospital.
