Clinical profile of healthcare employees with needlestick and sharps injuries and infectious body fluid exposure in tertiary care hospitals in southern India

Abstract

Background

Needle-stick and sharps injuries (NSSIs) are major occupational hazards faced by healthcare employees (HCEs) worldwide.

Objectives

This study aimed to assess trends of NSSIs among HCEs and their exposure to other infected body fluids, as well as to determine their risk factors.

Methods

This retrospective observational study involved secondary data of NSSIs collected from January 2016 to June 2023.

Results

There was a constant decline in the number of NSSI incidents over the time, except in 2021. Among the 334 HCEs with a history of exposure, 129 (38.6%) were staff nurses. Most HCEs [274 (82.0%)] developed a prick from the injector needle, and the majority (39.4%) received a prick on the fingers of the left hand. The majority (24.1%) were exposed to NSSIs and infectious body fluids while handling/discarding biomedical wastes (BMWs). Delays in screening and initiation of postexposure prophylaxis (>24 h) were observed among 10.3% and 15.1% of HCEs, respectively. There were significantly more NSSIs than other forms of occupational exposure during the COVID-19 period (p = 0.046) and among HCEs aged 18–25 years (p = 0.033). Females were more prone to exposure while handling/discarding BMWs (p = 0.0001).

Conclusion

Training, particularly among junior HCEs, is needed to prevent NSSIs and exposure to infectious body fluids.