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Disposal-Related Sharps Injuries at a New York City Teaching Hospital

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Andre C. Weltman ,
Louise J. Short ,
Meryl H. Mendelson ,
David E. Lilienfeld  and
Marge Rodriguez
Andre C. Weltman*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Louise J. Short
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Meryl H. Mendelson
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
David E. Lilienfeld
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Marge Rodriguez
Affiliation:
Division of Nursing Education, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
*
New York State Department of Health, Room 840 Coming Tower, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237
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Abstract

Objective:

To characterize disposal-related sharps injuries.

Design:

A three-part study including (a) descriptive analysis of disposal-related injuries in a l-year period, (b) 4:l matched case-control study of nurses injured while using sharps disposal containers, and (c) survey to solicit opinions of users of containers.

Setting:

An 1,181-bed teaching hospital in New York City.

Participants:

For epidemiologic analyses, persons with self-reported injuries identified via New York State and Occupational Safety and Health Administration forms and control nurses without self-reported injuries. For survey, convenience sample of hospital nurses, laboratory workers, and maintenance workers.

Main Outcome Measures:

Circumstances of injuries determined by study questionnaires. Employee opinions obtained by questionnaires and discussions during small group sessions.

Results:

Three hundred sixty-one persons reported sharps injuries, of whom 72 (20%) had disposal-related injuries. Persons with disposal-related injuries included four hospital visitors and one patient. Of 67 disposal-related injuries among employees, 25 (37%) directly involved use of a sharps disposal container. Significant risk factors for injury included container height greater than 4 ft above the floor, distance less than 5 ft from site of sharp object use to nearest container, and lack of attendance at universal precautions inservice classes. Survey groups involved 69 employees who identified a variety of preferred features for sharps disposal containers.

Conclusions:

Disposal of sharp objects is an important cause of sharps injuries. Ergonomic factors, worker education, and appropriate container design should be considered in injury prevention strategies. Relevant guidelines and regulations are lacking and are needed.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 16 , Issue 5 , May 1995 , pp. 268 - 274
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1995

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