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Innovative Solution to Sharp Waste Management in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Seher Qaiser ,
Ambreen Arif ,
Saeed Quaid ,
Tasnim Ahsan ,
Kashif Riaz ,
Saad Niaz ,
Huma Qureshi ,
Waquaruddin Ahmed  and
Syed Ejaz Alam
Seher Qaiser*
Affiliation:
Health Foundation, Karachi, Pakistan
Ambreen Arif
Affiliation:
Pakistan Medical Research Council and Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan
Saeed Quaid
Affiliation:
World Health Organization, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tasnim Ahsan
Affiliation:
World Health Organization, Islamabad, Pakistan
Kashif Riaz
Affiliation:
Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan
Saad Niaz
Affiliation:
Health Foundation, Karachi, Pakistan
Huma Qureshi
Affiliation:
Pakistan Medical Research Council and Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan
Waquaruddin Ahmed
Affiliation:
Pakistan Medical Research Council and Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan
Syed Ejaz Alam
Affiliation:
Pakistan Medical Research Council and Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan
*
176/w Block II, Pakistan Employees Cooperative Housing Society, Karachi, Sindh 75510, Pakistan (drambreenarif@gmail.com)
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Abstract

Background.

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C in Pakistan is 2.5% and 4.5%, respectively. Major cause of these infections is reuse of syringes.

Objective.

To determine a cost-effective, innovative solution to prevent syringe reuse and break the transmission cycle of blood-borne infections.

Study Design, Settings, and Duration.

Analytical study in a tertiary care hospital, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan, July 2011 to June 2012.

Methods.

Healthcare workers from 30 wards included in the study were trained on injection safety, use of needle remover and needle pit, and management of needlestick injuries. Each ward was provided with 2 needle-removing devices, and a pit was constructed for disposal of needles. Usage of the device in wards and pit use were monitored regularly.

Results.

In 28 (93.3%) wards, sharp containers were accessible by public and were slack. Syringes were recapped using both hands in 27 (90%) cases; needlestick injury was reported by 30% of paramedics, while 25 (83.3%) of the interviewed staff had not received any formal training in injection safety. Vigilant monitoring and information sharing led to healthcare workers in 28 (96.5%) wards using the device. Needle containers were emptied in 27 (93.1%) wards, and needle pits were used in 26 (96.3%) wards. Needlestick injury was nil in follow-up.

Conclusions.

Needle removers permanently disable syringes. The needle pit served as a cost-effective, innovative method for disposal of needles. The intervention resulted in reducing the risk of needlestick injury.

Type
Original Article
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 34 , Issue 12 , December 2013 , pp. 1297 - 1305
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2013

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