PreventingNeedlesticksandOtherSharpsInjuries…Everything.pptVIP

* To prevent sharps injuries, we first need to understand how they occur. Who gets injured? Where do they happen? What devices are involved? When and how do injuries occur? And, how can they be prevented? [Note to Presenter: The following slides may be augmented or replaced using local data. Use the questions above as a guide.] * The information I’m presenting about the epidemiology of sharps injuries comes from two voluntary surveillance systems. One is the National Surveillance System for Healthcare Workers (also known as NaSH), which was established by CDC in 1995 and has information on over 20,000 blood exposures from approximately 100 hospitals. The other is the Exposure Prevention Information Network (known as EPINet), which collects information on blood exposures from hospitals across the U.S. EPINet is a product of the International Health Care Worker Safety Center and the University of Virginia Health System. This system was developed in 1991 and collects blood exposure information from approximately 70 hospitals. * Data from NaSH show that nurses sustain the highest percentage of percutaneous injuries. However other patient-care providers (such as physicians and specialized technicians), laboratory staff and support personnel (such as housekeeping and maintenance staff) are also at risk. [ NOTE to presenter: Depending on audience, the collective data can be used to elicit discussion on issues that contribute to this distribution: devices, training, staffing, disposal problems, etc. Ask audience members how they think injuries to housekeeping and maintenance staff occur. If the targeted group is primarily laboratory staff, you may want to include other bloodborne pathogens important to lab workers (See Workbook, Overview—Risks and Prevention of Sharps Injuries in Healthcare Personnel, Table 1).] * Although sharps can cause injuries anywhere within the healthcare environment, NaSH data show that a large share (39%) of injuries occur on inpa