Needlestick Injuries Research Articles

EVALUATION OF NEEDLE STICK INJURY AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN AL NAJAF CITY/ IRAQ

Introduction:In healthcare-related situations, needle sticks represent a substantial work-related health risk. Healthcare professionals face the danger of contracting blood-borne infections as well as the psychological impact of these wounds. The study aimedtoevaluate the prevalence of needle stick injuries and the associated socio-demographic determinants among healthcare workers.Methods: The research employed a cross-sectional design, with data collection occurring from February 1st, 2023 to February 1st, 2024. 380participants were conveniently selected from different Al-Najaf City/Iraq healthcare institutions. The study sample included a variety of specialists, including anesthetics, surgeons, dentists, surgeon assistants, anesthetics assistants, nurses, physicians, and laboratory workers. A self-administered questionnaire from previously published articles was used for data collection. It covers socio-demographic information, a history of previous exposure to, and the reasons for needle stick injuries.Quantitative variables were summarized with means and standard deviations; descriptive statistics for categorical variables included frequencies and percentages. P ≤ 0.05 indicated statistical significance.Results: Most healthcare workers (85%) were previously exposed to needle sticks. Job category was significantly associated with a history of needle stick exposure (p < 0.001). The anesthetics represent the highest job class exposed to needle sticks (100%). More than one-fifth of participants (21.85%) reported recapping needles followed by bending needles in 16.84% of them as a cause of needle stick injuries. Conclusion: Most healthcare workers are exposed to needle stick injuries; job category is an important risk factor

A Meta-Analysis Study to Decrease the Incidence of Needle Stick Injuries (NSI) Among Laboratory Staff

A Meta-Analysis Study to Decrease the Incidence of Needle Stick Injuries (NSI) Among Laboratory Staff

Prevalence and factors contributing to needle stick injuries among healthcare workers at acute care hospital in central Saudi Arabia

Prevalence and factors contributing to needle stick injuries among healthcare workers at acute care hospital in central Saudi Arabia

Integrated multi-omics approaches reveal the neurotoxicity of triclocarban in mouse brain

Triclocarban (TCC) is an antimicrobial ingredient that commonly incorporated in many household and personal care products, raising public concerns about its potential health risks. Previous research has showed that TCC could cross the blood–brain barrier, but to date our understanding of its potential neurotoxicity at human-relevant concentrations remains lacking. In this study, we observed anxiety-like behaviors in mice with continuous percutaneous exposure to TCC. Subsequently, we combined lipidomic, proteomic, and metabolic landscapes to investigate the underlying mechanisms of TCC-related neurotoxicity. The results showed that TCC exposure dysregulated the proteins involved in endocytosis and neurodegenerative disorders in mouse cerebrum. Brain energy homeostasis was also altered, as evidenced by the perturbation of pyruvate metabolism, TCA cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, which in turn caused mitochondrial dysfunction. Meanwhile, the changing trends of sphingolipid signaling pathway and overproduction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) could enhance the neural apoptosis. The in vitro approach further demonstrated that TCC exposure promoted apoptosis, accompanied by the overproduction of mROS and alteration in the mitochondrial membrane potential in N2A cells. Together, dysregulated endocytosis, mROS-related mitochondrial dysfunction and neural cell apoptosis are considered to be crucial factors for TCC-induced neurotoxicity, which may contribute to the occurrence and development of neurodegenerative disorders. Our findings provide novel perspectives for the mechanisms of TCC-triggered neurotoxicity.

Research on the Causes and Nursing Interventions of Extravasation During Intravenous Infusion

Intravenous infusion, a common clinical drug treatment method, is widely used in the treatment of various diseases. Due to the invasive nature of puncture during intravenous infusion, patients may inevitably experience resistance and tension when facing nursing staff performing infusion procedures. Additionally, the complexity of the nursing staff’s work and the impact of the infusion therapy environment can exacerbate the tension between nurses and patients, leading to risks such as drug leakage and needlestick injuries. This article focuses on the factors influencing extravasation during intravenous infusion and elaborates on how high-quality nursing interventions can reduce the incidence of adverse events during intravenous infusion. These interventions aim to improve patient satisfaction with intravenous infusion nursing care and ensure the safety of intravenous infusion procedures.

The Relationship Between Nurses’ Knowledge and Needle Stick Injury Prevention Behavior

A frequent work accident in the hospitals is needle stick injury. Nurses always contact with blood, patient’s body fluids, punctured needles used by patients and other dangers which can be a medium of disease transmission. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between knowledge and needle stick injury prevention behavior. This study used a correlational analytical design with a cross-sectional method, and used cluster sampling techniques to obtain 88 respondents. The data were gathered by using the Lubis questionnaire to measure knowledge and behavior in the prevention of needle stick injury. Then, the data were analyzed by a contingency coefficient test. It was found that 83 nurses (94.3%) had good knowledge and 85 nurses (96.6%) had good behavior. The data about nurses’ knowledge was analyzed and obtained a value of p = 0.000 and a value of contingency coefficient = 0.444, meaning that there was a relationship between knowledge and needle stick injury prevention behavior. Prevention efforts can be carried out by providing guidance, training, direction, and supervision, so that nurses’ awareness increase and they can work safely.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of anaesthesia personnel towards needle stick injuries in a tertiary care hospital.

The cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. A questionnaire was distributed amongst anaesthesia personnel, including faculty, residents, medical officers, technicians, recovery room nurses and pain nurses working in the Department of Anaesthesiology for >3 months. Knowledge, attitudes and practices were assessed according to the operational definitions. Of the 162 respondents, 106(65.4%) were males and 56(34.6%) were females. The overall mean age was 31±6.2 years. Adequate knowledge was found in 41(25%) subjects. Overall, 56(35%) respondents reported having had a needle-stick injury, and, among them, 49(87.5%) had a positive attitude. Also, 156(96.3%) participants followed good practices. Although entirely preventable, needle stick injuries were found to be common, indicating the need for proper implementation or revision of existing policies and attainment of safe needle devices.

Knowledge of Hepatitis-B Management and its Prevention among the Senior Staff Nurses Working at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU)

Background: Hepatitis B, caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), presents a significant global health challenge, especially in regions like Bangladesh where its prevalence is intermediate. The virus is transmitted through percutaneous or mucosal exposure to infectious blood or bodily fluids, posing a substantial risk to healthcare workers. Hepatitis B can lead to severe liver diseases if untreated. In Bangladesh, the burden of Hepatitis B is high, necessitating urgent intervention, particularly among healthcare professionals such as senior staff nurses who are on the frontline of managing and preventing the disease. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed the knowledge levels of 210 senior staff nurses at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) regarding Hepatitis B management and prevention. A structured questionnaire, translated into Bengali, was used for data collection through structured interviews. Convenience sampling was employed, and data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 24.0). Descriptive statistics and t-tests/ANOVA were used to explore the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and nurses' knowledge about Hepatitis B. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of BSMMU. Results: The majority of respondents were female (70%), aged below 30 years (59.5%), and had basic nursing education (89.5%). Most had 1-10 years of work experience (89%) and earned less than 35,000 BDT monthly (78.1%). Regarding vaccination, 64.3% had completed it, 26.7% were partially vaccinated, and 9% were unvaccinated. Occupational exposure to blood or body fluids was reported by 73.3% of nurses. Knowledge about Hepatitis B infection, transmission, and prevention was generally high, with 85.44%, 89.14%, and 85.11% of nurses demonstrating good knowledge in these areas, respectively. Marital status and vaccination status were significantly associated with higher knowledge levels (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Senior staff nurses at BSMMU exhibit substantial knowledge about Hepatitis B infection, transmission, and prevention. However, misconceptions persist regarding non-transmission routes and some preventive measures. Married nurses and those with complete vaccination status demonstrated higher knowledge levels. These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions to address knowledge gaps and reinforce preventive practices among nurses. This study underscores the importance of continuous education and vaccination programs to enhance the effectiveness of Hepatitis B management and prevention efforts in healthcare settings.

Work-related stress among nurses: a comparative cross-sectional study of two government hospitals in Ghana

BackgroundOccupational stress is increasing globally and affecting all workplaces and countries’ health professionals. Despite its significant impact on healthcare delivery, limited studies have actually compared the prevalence, causes, effects, and coping strategies of stress among nurses working in hospitals with variation in capacity and function in Ghana. We, therefore, examined and compared the prevalence, causes, effects and coping strategies of occupational stress among nurses working in a secondary care and tertiary hospital in Ghana.MethodsWe conducted a health facility-based cross-sectional study among 248 nurses from two hospitals (Volta Regional Hospital [VRH] and Ho Teaching Hospital [HTH]). The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Weiman Occupational Stress Scale (WOSS) were used to measure the nurses’ stress levels and causes of occupational stress respectively. A self-reported checklist was used to measure both the effects of stress and strategies. Descriptive analyses and t-tests were performed, and statistical significance was measured at the 0.05 level.ResultsThe majority of nurses 77.8% experienced a moderate level of perceived stress. The total individual mean scores of the nurses from the two hospitals (VRH = 3.02 and HTH = 3.09) were 34% and 37% respectively higher than the established WOSS individual average of 2.25. Nursing difficult patients (t=-1.1196, p = 0.037), Unfriendly relationships with superiors, colleagues, and subordinates (t=-2.3333, p = 0.020), working with incompetent staff (t=-1.3129, p = 0.037) were the statistically significant stressors among nurses in the HTH. Whereas, long work hours (t = 2.0841, p = 0.038) and needle-stick injuries (t = 2.6669, p = 0.008) were the statistically significant stressors among nurses from the VRH. Headache (VRH = 73.8% and HTH = 97.9%), Fatigue (VRH = 68.9% and HTH = 83.5%), Frustration VRH = 50.5% and HTH = 68.3%) and Lack of Concentration (VRH = 81.6% and HTH = 80.0%) were most common effects of occupational stress reported.ConclusionThe majority of nurses reported moderate levels of stress, with the two institutions’ stressors differing. Key causes of stress were needle stick injuries, long hours, dealing with challenging patients and strained interpersonal relationships. Common side effects were headaches, exhaustion, irritability, and trouble focusing. To accelerate progress towards achieving the sustainable development goal (SDG) 3.4 of promoting mental health and well-being by 2030, the 2012 Mental Health Act of Ghana and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, should fully and effectively be implemented in health facilities across the country.

Identifying Work-Related Injuries Among Healthcare Workers in Makkah Hospitals, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study in 2024.

Background Work-related injuries (WRIs) are a major occupational health issue among healthcare workers (HCWs) worldwide. HCWs face numerous daily hazards including needlestick injuries, chemical exposures, ergonomic strains, and psychological stressors crucial for their health and healthcare system functionality.In Makkah, Saudi Arabia, healthcare infrastructure advances raise concerns about work-related injuries among HCWs. This study in Makkah hospitals aims to identify, understand, and manage WRIs for improved occupational health guidelines and strategies. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study on HCWs was conducted at Makkah hospitals using an electronic questionnaire that investigated the demographics, work-related injuries, and occupational hazards. The data collected from the retrieved questionnaires were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results Among 379 enrolled HCWs, 172 (49.3%) were physicians and 89 (19.8%) were nurses; 304 (80.2%) of the total participants knew about occupational safety. The total incidence of WRIs was 67.8%. WRIs were significantly associated with age (P˂0.001), gender (P=0.02), educational level (P˂0.001), profession (P˂0.001), working hours (P˂0.001), and shift time (P˂0.001). Conclusion WRIs were highly prevalent among HCWs with varying rates based on the type of injury and the frequency of injury. WRIs were associated with various factors including age, gender, education, profession, working house, and shift time of the participants.

Pain, inconvenience and blame: defining work-related injuries in the veterinary workplace.

The veterinary workplace carries a high risk of staff accidents and injuries, yet there is scant research exploring it in comparison with other comparable fields, such as human medicine. To understand how veterinary professionals define injuries and to understand what injuries they do, or do not, deem reportable. A cross-sectional survey comprising demographic questions and open-text questions was shared with veterinary practice staff across the UK. Data were analysed descriptively and using an inductive content analysis. There were 740 respondents, who were broadly representative of the veterinary profession. There were differences in how injuries were defined; for example, small animal veterinarians expected injuries to involve blood, while equine and production animal veterinarians were more likely to expect injuries to reduce their ability to perform work and require medical treatment. Many suggested that 'all' workplace injuries should be reported; however, 'minor' injuries were often overlooked, for example, needlestick injuries did not always meet the criteria of being an 'injury'. Injuries caused by staff themselves (e.g. trips) were less likely to be reported than injuries that could be blamed on an external factor (e.g. dog bite). Collectively, the data suggest a wide-ranging perception of risk of injury in practice, with some harms seen as 'everyday norms'. Veterinary practices should interpret their injury statistics with a high degree of caution. They should explore the microcultures within their practices relating to worker perception of risk, injury and barriers to reporting.

A cross-sectional evaluation of city firefighters' exposure to potentially traumatic events during opioid overdose responses and mental health

Firefighters often serve as emergency medical services providers and face repeated exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTEs) while participating in opioid overdose responses (OORs), which may impact their mental health. A survey of 173 firefighters who had participated in an OOR in the previous 6 months was used to assess exposure to PTEs during such events, job stress, mental health symptoms, and resources used to address mental health symptoms. Most firefighters (97%) reported experiencing one or more PTEs while responding to an opioid overdose in the past 6 months. Associations between PTEs and mental health are reported. For example, there was a higher prevalence of high job stress (22.7% vs. 5.3%, p = 0.014) and meeting the screening definition of PTSD (15.4% vs. 1.9%, p = 0.047), depression (33.1% vs. 6.1%, p = 0.022), and anxiety (33.1% vs. 6.1%, p = 0.022) among those who experienced a needlestick injury during an OOR than those who did not experience a needlestick injury during an OOR. Seeking social support is recommended following PTEs; mental health care should be sought when symptoms interfere with personal, social, or occupational functioning. This survey identified important firefighter mental health characteristics which will assist fire departments in determining the appropriate mental health training, support, and services.

Trends in the market for drug delivery devices categorized as combination drugs and medical devices and regulatory challenges for autoinjectors in Japan.

Although a variety of drug delivery devices have been launched in recent years, few studies have comprehensively investigated the market trends of combination drugs and medical devices approved or certified in Japan and the regulatory challenges related to their approval. Among the drug delivery devices, autoinjectors are more convenient than traditional prefilled syringes and are designed with safety features to prevent needlestick accidents, allowing self-injection by patients. Therefore, autoinjectors have been incorporated into the treatment of various diseases and have shown significant growth among drug delivery devices. This study aimed to investigate the market trends of combination drugs approved in Japan, especially those with autoinjector formulations, and to explore the challenges in the regulatory aspects of combination drugs. Information on the number of marketed drugs and medical devices was obtained from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) database using specific definitions. We looked at the annual changes in the number of drug delivery devices approved and certified as combination drugs or medical devices and the number of canceled certifications. We also examined the classification and main certification criteria for Japanese medical device nomenclature. The study suggested that the number of combination drugs with autoinjector formulations is increasing, replacing previously approved or certified pen-type medication injectors. Moreover, 53% of all drug products were approved for autoinjector formulations after the initial authorization approval in Japan, and more than half of them obtained approval for additional formulations for autoinjectors within five years of the initial authorization approval, with the largest number of cases obtaining approval for additional formulations two years later. The lack of clear regulatory requirements for autoinjectors may lead to confusion among applicants. Furthermore, there are challenges in filing regulatory applications, thus hindering the rapid launch of combination drug-utilizing devices with superior usability.

Choice of needleless connector technology as a risk reduction strategy for catheter related bloodstream infection, mortality, and cost: A secondary data analysis.

To compare relative risk (RR) of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) between hospitals using Clave needleless connector technologies (NCT) and comparator hospitals using non-Clave NCT. And, to estimate avoided CLABSIs, mortality, and cost savings. Needleless connectors, while protective against needlestick injury, have long been implicated as a potential risk for CLABSI. Significant RR reduction of CLABSI among the many NCT has not been clinically demonstrated. The U.S. Healthcare-Associated Infections database was accessed for CLABSI data for calendar year 2019 via the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website. This dataset was merged with the Clave NCT manufacturer's 2019 database to identify hospitals purchasing Clave NCT (MicroClave™, NanoClave™, Clave Neutron™, Clave™, Microclave™ Clear) and non-Clave NCT comparator hospitals. Sub-analysis of Clave NCT hospitals included: (1) Clave NCT mixed-use and (2) Clave high-volume use hospitals. The standardized infection ratio (SIR) was generated to estimate CLABSI RR after adjusting for intern/resident-to-bed-ratio (IRB), care location, and hospital demographics. Using the RR, avoided CLABSIs, mortality, and cost savings were calculated. A total of 2987 eligible hospitals (1288 Clave NCT, 1699 non-Clave NCT) with 17,452,575 central line-days were evaluated. All three Clave NCT hospital groups showed a statistically significant reduction in RR compared to the non-Clave NCT hospitals. The RR in Clave NCT hospitals was 0.93, a 7% decrease in CLABSI risk (p = 0.02). In the Clave NCT subgroups, mixed-use hospitals RR was 0.93, a 7% reduction (p = 0.04), while the Clave NCT high-volume hospitals experienced a 19% reduction, RR 0.81 (p = 0.04). An estimated 563 CLABSIs and 84 related deaths were avoided with use of Clave NCT and $27,095,231 in cost savings. The use of the Clave NCT, in and of itself, is an effective risk reduction strategy for CLABSI prevention, reduced mortality, and substantial cost savings.

Frequency of occupational health hazards and factors responsible among the waste handlers at the tertiary care hospitals of Karachi.

Hospital waste handlers (HWHs) are in contact with contaminated waste that put them at risk for occupational health hazards. The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of occupational health hazards and identify factors contributing to them among the HWHs at tertiary care hospitals of Karachi. A cross sectional survey was conducted from January 2021 till June 2022 on 417 conveniently selected HWHs of the public and private tertiary care hospitals of the Karachi including three Public sector hospitals (Civil Hospital Karachi, National Institute of Child Health, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center) and five private sector hospitals (Sohail University Hospital, Darulsehat Hospital, Kharadar General Hospital, Patel Hospital and Hamdard University Hospital) using a structured questionnaire. Chi Square test was applied to determine the differences in occurrence of different hazardous outcomes (Needle stick injury, Sharp Injury, Eye Symptoms, Skin symptoms, Cough) between different groups of age, gender, type of hospitals and status of being trained in Hospital Waste Management (HWM). Around half of the HWHs (52.6%) labeled the bins of the waste according to their level of hazard. Only 17.9% disinfected the infected waste. The proportion of participants who experienced needle stick and sharp injury in the last six months was 16.3% and 15.8% respectively. Majority of them used disposable gloves (95.7%) and face masks (94.3%). One thirds had access to aprons while only 10.5% had access to protective shoes at their work place. HWHs of private sector were significantly less likely to experience Needle stick injuries, skin symptoms, cough, breathing difficulty and throat burning. The HWM practices in tertiary care hospitals of Karachi is far from being satisfactory. HWHs must be trained and monitored for safe disposal of waste.

Prevalence, response and associated factors of needlestick injury among health care workers in Orotta National Referral Hospital, Eritrea

BackgroundHealthcare workers are at risk of occupational exposure to blood and other body fluids after sustaining needlestick injury which constitutes a risk for transmission of blood-borne pathogens such as Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus or Human Immune-deficiency Virus.ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence, response, and associated factors of needlestick injury by medical sharps among healthcare workers in Orotta National Referral Hospital, Asmara, Eritrea.MethodsCross sectional study was conducted between September and December 2017 among healthcare workers. This was a census study whereby a total of 383 healthcare workers who had contact with sharp medical equipment were taken as study population. An aided self-administered questionnaire, checklist and key informant interviews were used as data collection tools. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 22. Bivariate and binary logistic regression analyses were carried out and the level of significance was set at P < .05.ResultsThe prevalence of needlestick injury 12 months preceding the study was 37.1% (134/361). Midwives had the highest occurrence (45%) among others while adult intensive care unit were found to have higher prevalence of needlestick injury (61.5%) as compared to the other sections. As an immediate response to needlestick injury, only 15.7% washed the injured part with soap and water. The factors associated with needlestick injury include age > 40 years (AOR = .314, p = .05), marital status (married (AOR = 0.595, p = .05)), additional duty that made healthcare workers rush during working hours (AOR = 2.134, p = .002) and back bone problem (AOR = 2.239, p = .002).ConclusionThe overall finding of the study indicated that there was a great risk of contracting blood-borne infections among the healthcare workers especially midwives. Therefore, there is need for adequate supply of safety engineered devices, Hepatitis B vaccine, better reporting, and surveillance of needlestick injury cases at the hospital. Moreover, further research on assessment of the knowledge, attitude, and practice of healthcare workers toward occupational safety and health, particularly needlestick injury, is necessary.

Study on needle stick injuries during surgery and blunt needle use for reducing occupational exposure and hygiene benefits.

The conventional round suture needle poses a significant risk of needle stick injuries among surgical physicians, identified as a global occupational hazard by the World Health Organization, increasing hospital costs and exposure to bloodborne pathogens. While novel blunt suture needles have shown promise in reducing these risks, their adoption is limited domestically, prompting a study to compare their efficacy against traditional sharp needles in reducing needle stick injuries among surgical physicians. To investigate suture needle stick injuries among surgical doctors during operations and assess the application effectiveness of a novel blunt suture needle. A total of 106 surgical department physicians from March 2021 to February 2023 participated in the study. After completing a questionnaire survey on suture needle injuries during surgery, the participants were divided into two groups. Over a 6-month intervention period, the control group used regular round needles while the study group utilized novel blunt suture needles. Subsequently, suture needle injury incidence rates and economic hygiene benefits were compared between the two groups. The suture needle injury questionnaire survey showed that over the past 6 months, among 106 surgical department physicians, 20 needle stick injuries occurred, yielding an incidence rate of 18.87%. The highest incidence (65.00%) was during suturing incisions longer than 10 cm, primarily when visibility was poor (70.00%). Surgeons linked most injuries (60.00%) to prolonged surgical duration causing fatigue. Although 85.00% detected injuries within 1 minute, only 40.00% were reported, often due to perceived reporting complexity. Following intervention, the study group had significantly fewer injuries per surgery and lower occupational exposure costs compared to the control group (p< 0.05). Surgical department physicians commonly sustain suture needle injuries while suturing incisions of 5-10 cm length under poor visibility, exacerbated by prolonged surgical duration. Despite detecting most injuries within 1 minute, only 40% are reported. The implementation of novel blunt suture needles significantly decreases injury rates, resulting in reduced occupational exposure costs and favorable safety and economic hygiene outcomes.

Financial impact of needle stick injury on a tertiary care teaching hospital

BackgroundAccidental needle stick injuries (NSIs) are an occupational hazard for healthcare workers (HCWs). Despite the implementation of preventive measures, NSIs still continue to occur in health care settings. The cost incurred by an institute for the management of occupational exposure to blood borne pathogen is a significant economic burden.This retrospective study was aimed to estimate the prevalence, factors associated with NSIs and cost burden on hospital due to NSIs. Material and methodsRetrospective data of all reported NSIs among HCWs between January 2019 and December 2021 in a tertiary care hospital was collected and analyzed. CDC definition was used to calculate direct & indirect cost. Results& Discussion- A total 205 NSIs were reported between January 2019 and December 2021. Nurses were the most affected category of HCWs. The maximum number of NSI cases (18.54 %) occurred during handling of biomedical waste. Both the source and the affected HCWs were tested and it was found that the source was seropositive in 30(14.63 %), seronegative in 128 (62.44 %) cases and in 47(22.93 %) cases there was an unknown source resulting in NSI. A total of 13, 21,206 INR, which included both direct and indirect cost, spent by hospital in the management of NSI's, over a period of 3yrs. ConclusionSurveillance and analysis of NSI is very crucial for the planning of both preventive measures and training modules. Managing NSI generates significant cost. Hepatitis B vaccination for all healthcare workers plays major role in reducing cost of managing NSIs.

Practices for preventing Hepatitis B infection among health science students in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Hepatitis B virus infection remains a significant public health concern globally, particularly among healthcare workers, including health science students who are at high risk due to their exposure to infected patients and contaminated medical equipment. In Ethiopia, where the burden of HBV infection is substantial, preventive practices among health science students are critical for minimizing transmission and ensuring a healthy workforce. However, there is a lack of comprehensive evidence regarding the effectiveness of these practices specifically among this population in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of preventive measures for Hepatitis B infection among Health Science Students in Ethiopia. This study followed the guidelines outlined in the PRISMA checklist and focused on research conducted within Ethiopia. Seven relevant studies were identified through comprehensive searches across various databases including Google, Medline, PubMed, and Scholar. Data retrieval was systematically conducted using a checklist, and analysis was performed using STATA version 14. Heterogeneity was assessed using both the Cochrane Q test and the I2 statistic. Additionally, publication bias was evaluated using Egger's weighted regression, a funnel plot, and Begg's test. In this meta-analysis and systematic review, we identified a total of 515 research articles, of which seven studies met the eligibility criteria for analysis. The overall pooled magnitude of practices aimed at preventing Hepatitis B infection among Health Science Students in Ethiopia was 41.21% (95% CI: 30.81-51.62). Factors significantly associated with these practices included better understanding of Hepatitis B infection prevention (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.20-3.29), age group 20-24 years (OR = 5.79, 95% CI: 2.43-13.78), needle stick injury exposure (OR = 3.43, 95% CI: 1.10-10.70), and students enrolled in medicine or public health officer departments (OR = 4.20, 95% CI: 2.65-6.65). Our analysis indicates that only 41.21% of Health Science students in Ethiopia adhere to Hepatitis B prevention practices. To improve these practices, it is essential to mandate vaccination, provide targeted training on infection prevention, and increase awareness of vaccine uptake. Tailored educational programs should equip students with practical strategies. Additionally, intelligent interventions must address factors influencing preventive practices. Collaboration between institutions and ongoing monitoring is crucial to ensuring success.

Occupational percutaneous injuries and exposures at a dental teaching institution from 2017 to 2023

Background: All dental professionals face the risk of occupational percutaneous injuries and exposures. Previous studies have reported high incidents of percutaneous injuries among dentists. This study examined injury data over six years at a large teaching institution for trends to increase awareness and to design appropriate interventions to reduce injury rates. Method: Study injury data was collected for the department of employee and occupational health. The data was entered into an electronic incident reporting system from 2017-2023. Statistical analysis was performed with Openepi to determine injury trend by year and overall association by activity type. Result: There was a total of 168 injuries reported between 2017 and 2023. A majority of the injuries (54%) were caused by a needle or sutures followed by instruments at 41%. Most of the injuries (44%) occurred during treatment and while cleaning the surgical spaces at 15%. Only 13% of the injuries were attributed to handling or recapping needles. Chi-square test 0.2618 (p&gt;.05) indicated there was no significant difference between years and number of injuries. Overall chi-square p ( &lt; 0 .001) by activity type was significant indicating risk was not equal across all activities. Conclusion: Injuries declined during COVID-19 but soared back up in 2023. Needles, sutures, and instruments were the predominant source of injuries. Injuries occurred during treatment (43%), while cleaning the surgical space (15%) and while recapping or handling needles (13%). This study is the first step in understanding the trend and factors attributing to injuries to implement appropriate corrective actions. Further analysis should be conducted to identify specific procedures or clinical activities exposing employees to Occupational percutaneous injuries.