Although the risk of occupationally acquired infection is a matter of considerable concern for health care workers, the problem of needlestick injuries has yet to be fully understood in Japan.
We investigated 257 cases of needlestick injuries in five Nagoya Municipal Hospitals from 1989 to 1994 using the Japan EP Inet. The number of needlestick injuries increased each year of the study. In one of these hospitals, the Higashi Municipal Hospital, a specialist committee began activities in April, 1993, and protective equipment and devices were also introduced during 1994.
HCV contamination injuries accounted for 70%-80% of the total number of injuries reported during the 1991-1994 period at the four hospitals and during 1991-1992 period at the Higashi Municipal Hospital. At the Higashi Municipal Hospital, HCV contamination injuries decreased from 22 cases (48%) in 1993, to 15 cases (25%) in 1994. The use of the Japanese EPINet for analytical purposes enabled us to clearly identify the causes and status of needlestick injuries, resulting in the establishment of an effective prevention program.