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Research Article: Needlestick and Sharps Injuries Among Healthcare Workers at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Single-Center Study

Date Published: 2023-11-06

Abstract:
Needlestick and sharps injuries (NSSI) are major occupational hazards that are commonly associated with healthcare workers’ (HCWs) practice standards. More than different types of bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted as a result of NSSIs.Despite the existence of efficient therapies, the likelihood of contracting human immunodeficiency virus(HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can cause HCWs to experience psychological distress such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as a reduction in quality of life.HIV, HCV and HBV transmission rates after transcutaneous injury are estimated to be .%, .%, and %, respectively, and only HBV infection is preventable through vaccination., Even though preventive measures, including enhanced equipment design and personnel training were applied, sharps injuries continued to occur at every stage of sharps device utilization, disassembly or discarding. According to the United States Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), . million HCWs are at risk of occupational exposure to various blood-borne pathogens as a result of NSSIs. Globally, approximately three million HCWs are exposed annually to blood-borne pathogens via NSI, two million of whom get HBV, . million contract HCV, and , develop HIV, according to the World Health Organization. Developing countries account for more than % of these infections. Despite the fact that the vast majority of NSSIs occur in developing countries, NSSIs are still reported in developed countries, suggesting that NSSIs may be a global issue. Indeed, despite the use of advanced prevention measures such as real-time injury monitoring systems combined with standard operating protocols in developed countries, NSSIs continue to occur., The prevalence of NSSIs is lower in developed countries than in developing countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, where each HCW suffers several injuries a year, they still face challenges due to restricted resources and infrastructure, insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), and overwork, which contribute to a high number of NSSIs in the region. According to one study, there were .% of NSSI cases among HCWs in sub-Saharan Africa in . NSSIs can occur through a variety of exposure pathways; for instance, in northern Uganda, .% of HIV exposure was linked to the use of sharps objects, and % of nurses and midwives reported having had at least one needlestick injury annually. According to a research conducted at the Rift Valley Provincial Hospital in Kenya, (%) of HCWs said they had percutaneous injuries, (.%) had mucosal membrane splashes, and (%) had contact with blood and other bodily fluids in the previous months. Nurses reported a high incidence of percutaneous injuries during stitching % and in the obstetric and gynecologic department %. HIV and HBV infections are serious health risks for people around the world, but they are especially problematic in undeveloped countries. The risk of occupational BBI for HCWs in low- and middle-income countries is high due to overcrowded hospitals, high patient loads per HCW, limited risk awareness, insufficient PPE, a lack of sharps containers, limited understanding and use of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), low adherence to universal precautions (UP), a high prevalence of bloodborne viral infections (BBV) patients, and low rates of hepatitis B vaccination among HCWs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the prevalence of needlestick and sharps injuries in Somalia. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the proportion of needlestick and sharps injuries among HCWs in a tertiary care hospital in Somalia and also to evaluate associated risk factors.

Introduction:
Needlestick and sharps injuries (NSSI) are major occupational hazards that are commonly associated with healthcare workers’ (HCWs) practice standards. More than different types of bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted as a result of NSSIs.Despite the existence of efficient therapies, the likelihood of contracting human immunodeficiency virus(HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) can cause HCWs to experience psychological distress such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress…

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