Professional paper
MONITORING SHARP OBJECT INJURIES AND OTHER EXPOSURE INCIDENTS IN HEALTH CARE EMPLOYEES
Asija Delalić
; Klinička bolnica Dubrava, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Ana Primorac
; Klinička bolnica Dubrava, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Nataša Janev Holcer
; Klinička bolnica Dubrava, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Injuries sustained while using sharp objects, in particular needles, are common in all segments of health care provision every day, posing a significant risk of potentially serious infections. The paper presents the results of monitoring sharp object injuries and other exposure incidents of health care employees at Dubrava Clinical Hospital from 2002 to 2010. There is a growing recognition of the need for prevention of incidents of this type. In connection with this, the Expert Team for National Guidelines for the Prevention of Infections Caused by Sharp Objects Used in Health Care Institutions has been formed.
Incident monitoring and the prevention measures are implemented at the recommendation of the Hospital Infections Reference Center at the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Croatia. This practise has been implemented in the Dubrava Clinical Hospital as a segment of work of the Hospital Infections Committee. The safety of health care employees and of others at risk of incidents is of essential importance. There is a need for permanent education of health care employees and for acquainting the general public with this issue in order to improve patient safety and advance the quality of health care.
Dubrava Clinical Hospital has reported an increase of incidents when compared with the initial year of monitoring. The most common type of injury is the injury from needles, followed by scalpel cuts. These injuries are most frequently sustained while taking blood samples, during surgery and while administering parenteral therapy. In addition to documenting the incidents, of special importance is the HBV vaccination of health care employees, monitoring immunity after vaccination, keeping a vaccination register, and educating all health care employees at Dubrava Hospital on the risks from sharp object injuries, prevention of exposure incidents and post-exposure profilactic measures.
Keywords
exposure incidents; health care employees; HBV; prevention measures
Hrčak ID:
83870
URI
Publication date:
3.7.2012.
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