The Incidence of Needle Stick and Sharp Injuries among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia, 2012-2014 Público

Abstract

Background: Needle Stick and Sharp Injuries (NSSIs) affect over 3.5 million HCWs per year globally, and 90 % of these incidents occur in underdeveloped countries, due to lack of education on safety procedures and time and resource constraints. In Saudi Arabia, no comprehensive assessment of the descriptive epidemiology of NSSIs has been performed. This restrictions hinder the implementation of safety programs to prevent NSSIs.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis from 2012 to 2014 using the Exposure Prevention Information Network (EPINet™) database of the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) to determine the incidence of NSSIs in healthcare facilities in Saudi Arabia and its distribution according to different factors. The dataset contained annual information on departments where the incident took place, HCW job categories, bodily location of injury, type of sharps item, purpose of the sharps item and time of injury.

Results: A total of 395 cases of NSSIs occurred in 2012, 419 in 2013 and 547 in 2014. The highest incidence rate (IR per 1000 hospital beds) was recorded in Najran (5.63) followed by Tabouk (3.06). Regarding job category, nurses had the highest IR of needle-stick injuries across all years, while Allied Health Professionals had the lowest rates. The highest proportion of incidents occurred in patient room/wards (N=510), and the most common corporeal injury location was the index finger of the left hand (N=162).

Conclusion: We observed difference in NSSIs by HCWs job categories, geographic regions, locations and severity of injury. We suggest multi-pronged, interventional approach based on periodic training and education of HCWs as well as PI surveillance that pinpoints high-risk areas and job categories of healthcare facilities.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Introduction....................................................................................8

Overview on Needle Stick and Sharp Injuries in Healthcare Workers......................8

Problem Statement..........................................................................................10

Research Questions..........................................................................................11

Significance.....................................................................................................12

Chapter 2-Literature Review.............................................................................13

NSSIs in the United States................................................................................13

General Characteristics of NSSIs in Saudi Arabia................................................14

Epidemiology of Needle Stick and Sharp Injuries (NSSIs) in KSA..........................15

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices in Saudi Arabia............................................15

Needle Stick and Sharps Injury Risk Factors.......................................................19

Needle Stick and Sharps Injury Prevention Strategies.........................................22

Summary.........................................................................................................22

Chapter 3-Manuscript......................................................................................24

Abstract..........................................................................................................24

Introduction....................................................................................................25

Materials and Methods.....................................................................................28

Results............................................................................................................33

Discussion.......................................................................................................35

Chapter 4 - Conclusion and Recommendations...................................................45

References.......................................................................................................48

Tables.............................................................................................................53

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Hubert Department of Global Health
Degree	MPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health
Palavra-chave	Occupational exposure Healthcare workers Needlestick injuries
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Farhat, Ghada N, Emory University
Partnering Agencies	Non-US governmental agency (e.g., Minister of Health in Haiti)

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