Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Some epidemiological aspects of needle stick injuries among the hospital health care workers: Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study was conducted to provide some epidemiological aspects of needle stick injuries among health care workers in the eastern province in Saudi Arabia. Data about 282 injuries reported from the hospitals of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia were collected through specially designed questionnaire retrospectively from 1995 to 1997. Results showed that 50% of injuries occurred in the first 3 years of employment. Workers in medical and surgical specialties suffered an equal degree of reported exposure. The highest percentage (46.8%) of injuries occurred during syringe related actions. Patients' wards were the major location of incidents (48.5%) followed by ICUs and dialysis units (17.7%), theatres (15.6%) and accidents and emergency departments (13.8%). There was no significant association between injuries and type of shifts. The middle hours of the shifts showed a significant association with injuries. The pattern of injuries was significantly associated with over loaded periods of medical practices. Deficiencies in implementing the standard recommendations for prevention and control of needle stick injuries were noted in the studied hospitals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Snashall D. Occupational infections. Br Med J 1996; 313: 551–554.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hibberd PL. Patients, needles and health care workers: understanding the epidemiology, pathophysiology and transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C and cytomegalovirus. J Intraven Nurs 1995; 18: S22–S31.

    Google Scholar 

  3. CDC. Public health services guidelines for the management of health care workers exposures to HIV and recommendations for post-exposure prophylaxis. Morb Mort Wkly Rep 1998; 47(RR-7).

  4. Kopfer AM, McGovern PM. Transmission of HIV via a needlestick injury: practice recommendations and research implications. AAOHN J 1993; 41(8): 374–381.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Luthi JC, Dubois-Arber F, Iten A, et al. The occurrence of percutaneous injuries to health care workers: a cross sectional survey in seven Swiss hospitals. Schweiz Med Wochenschr 1998; 128(14): 536–543.

    Google Scholar 

  6. El-Shazly MK, Ibrahim AG, Kamel MI. Study of accidental injuries among hospital service sta. as a potential hazard for transmission of Hepatitis. Bull High Institute Public Health 1991; 21(2): 333–339.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor. 29 CFR Part 1910.1030, occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens; final rule. Federal Register 1991; 56: 64004–64182.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Centers for Disease Control. Public health service guidelines for the management of health-care worker exposures to HIV and recommendations for post-exposure prophylaxis. Morb Mort Wkly Rep 1998; 47: RR-7.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Fleiss JL. Statistical Methods for Rates and Proportions. Somerset, NJ: Wiley and Sons, 1981; 212–236.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS/PC+) for Windows release 6.0(1993) [computer program]. SPSS Inc 1989–1993.

  11. Macias DJ, Hafner J II, Brillman JC, Tandberg D. Effect of time of day and duration into shift on hazardous exposures to biological fluids. Acad Emerg Med 1996; 3(6): 605–610.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Much JK, Cotteta TA. Stress of occupational exposure to blood or body fluids: managing the response. MEDSURG Nurs 1993; 2(1): 49–56.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Guo YL, Shiao J, Chuang YC, Huang KY. Needlestick and sharps injuries among health-care workers in Taiwan. Epidemiol Infect 1999; 122(2): 259–265.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Asogwa SE. Needlestick/sharps injury: an occupational health hazard of hospital workers. Saudi Med J 1997; 18(5): 458–461.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Ibpolito G, De Carli G, Puro V, Petrosillo N, Arici C. Device-specific risk of needlestick injury in Italian health care workers. JAMA 1994; 272: 607–610.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Khuri-Bulos NA, Toukan A, Mahafzah A, Al Adham M, Faori I, Abu Rumeileh ZI. Epidemiology of needlestick and sharp injuries at a university hospital in a developing country: a 3-year prospective study at the Jordan University Hospital, 1993 through 1995. Am J Infect Control 1997; 25(4): 322–329.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Occupational exposure to bloodborne: proposed rule and notice of hearing. Federal Register 1989; 54: 23042–23139.

    Google Scholar 

  18. CDC. Protection against viral hepatitis: recommendations of the immunization practices advisory committee (ACIP). Morb Mort Wkly Rep 1990; 39 (RR-2).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Occupational Health Department, General Directorate of Health Affairs, Eastern Province, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia

    Hassan Ahmed Abu-Gad

  2. Primary Health Care Administration, General Directorate of Health Affairs, Eastern Province, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia

    Khalid Abdulrahman Al-Turki

Authors
  1. Hassan Ahmed Abu-Gad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Khalid Abdulrahman Al-Turki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Abu-Gad, H.A., Al-Turki, K.A. Some epidemiological aspects of needle stick injuries among the hospital health care workers: Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Eur J Epidemiol 17, 401–407 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013793301772

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013793301772

Search

Navigation