ORIGINAL PAPER
Did safety-engineered device implementation contribute to reducing the risk of needlestick and sharps
injuries? Retrospective investigation of 20 years of observation in a specialist tertiary referral hospital
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1
Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, Kraków, Poland
(Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)
2
St. John Grande Hospital, Kraków, Poland
3
Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
(Faculty of Medicine, Chair of Microbiology, Department of Infection Control and Mycology)
4
St. Rose Hospital, Kraków, Poland
(Ophthalmology Clinic)
5
Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
(Faculty of Medicine, Chair of Microbiology, Department of Molecular Medical Microbiology)
6
Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
(Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Surgery)
Online publication date: 2024-05-09
Corresponding author
Katarzyna Talaga-Ćwiertnia
Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Chair of Microbiology, Department of Molecular
Medical Microbiology, Czysta 18, 31-121 Kraków, Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(2):234-43
RELATED ARTICLE
The erratum to this article was published on 2024-12-12
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: In Poland, there are numerous cases of injuries caused by sharp instruments annually, still significantly more than in other European
Union countries. The aim of this study was to analyze work-related injuries among healthcare workers in a selected hospital before and after the implementation
of safety-engineered devices (SED). Material and Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical documentation regarding occupational
needlestick and sharps injuries (NSSI) in a tertiary referral surgical hospital in 1998–2018. The study group consisted of nurses and doctors who had
been injured and reported the incident. The frequency of injury reports, injury rate, and characterization of circumstances surrounding NSSI are
presented. Results: Over the period of 20 years, a total of 257 NSSI incidents were reported. The average injury rate was statistically significant for
nurses (p = 0.004) and was higher before the introduction of SED. Moreover, the number of injuries among nurses showed a downward trend during
the study period. However, for doctors, there was no statistically significant difference in the median puncture rate (p = 0.099), and the number of
injuries showed an increasing trend. Conclusions: In this study, the authors’ have demonstrated not only the occurrence of injuries and punctures in
the daily work of medical personnel but also the potential for their reduction through the use of safety equipment at every workstation where healthcare
services are provided using sharp medical instruments. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2024;37(2):234–43