Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/10.31306/s.66.3.4
Protection and safety of nurses/technicians in the Republic of Croatia during a stabbing incident
Vesna Batinović
orcid.org/0000-0003-3841-2345
; student Sveučilišnog diplomskog studija sestrinstva, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Paula Brezak
orcid.org/0009-0004-8140-7503
; student Sveučilišnog diplomskog studija sestrinstva, Zagreb, Hrvatska
*
Marjeta Majer
orcid.org/0000-0001-5494-8719
; Škola narodnog zdravlja "Andrija Štampar", Zagreb, Hrvatska
* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
A needlestick incident is defined as an injury of the skin caused by a needle or sharp object. According to the World Health Organization's estimates, over two million healthcare workers worldwide are professionally exposed to needlestick incidents annually. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that implementing standard protective measures could prevent 86% of needlestick incidents. To reduce the risk of infection adherence to general protective measures in daily work and the implementation of specific measures following an incident are crucial. In our country, in accordance with the Regulation on the Implementation of Measures for the Prevention of Injuries Caused by Sharp Objects (Official Gazette 39/2020), every nurse must be familiar with the possibility of needlestick incidents while handling sharp objects at work. In the case of a needlestick incident, employers are obligated to promptly take actions in accordance with specific regulations on the conditions and methods of implementing preventive and control measures to combat hospital infections, ensuring healthcare provision for injured workers. Post-exposure prophylaxis involves several steps: the procedure at the exposure site (rinsing the contaminated area with water and soap), reporting professional exposure, evaluating the exposure, evaluating the source patient, and implementing post-exposure procedures that urgently commence in case of HIV or HBV infection. Despite the obligation for employees to report each needlestick incident to the hospital commission of the institution, an estimated 32,000 incidents in Croatia go unreported annually. The yearly reported cases do not exhibit a decreasing trend, emphasizing the need for consistent provision of available protective measures and continuous awareness-raising among healthcare professionals regarding the risks associated with working with sharp objects.
Ključne riječi
needlestick incident, occupational injuries, blood-borne diseases, reporting incidents
Hrčak ID:
321094
URI
Datum izdavanja:
2.10.2024.
Posjeta: 162 *