The Epidemiology of Needlestick and Sharp Injuries Among Healthcare Workers in a Secondary Care Hospital in Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Study

Introduction Needlestick and sharp injuries (NSI) continue to pose a significant risk for healthcare workers (HCWs) at their workplace. The incidence rate of NSI in hospitals depends on multiple risk factors. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of NSI among HCWs and the risk factors influencing NSI rates and to provide further direction for NSI prevention in secondary care hospitals. Methods This study included all the NSI cases reported by HCWs in King Abdul Aziz Hospital, Makkah from 2005 to 2017. All the cases were recorded in the Exposure Prevention Information Network (EPINet™) database (International Healthcare Worker Safety Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA). The study was executed by using data loaded in the EPINet™ Program, the hospital electronic recording system Medica Plus, and analyzed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program (SPSS Inc. Released 2007. SPSS for Windows, Version 15.0. Chicago, SPSS Inc.). Results During the period of study, 524 NSI cases were reported. The mean incidence rate per 100 occupied beds with 95% CI was 25.43 (22.05-28.81) and a statistically insignificant decline in NSI incidence rate was observed from 2005 to 2017. The maximal annual incidence rate (35.63 per 100 occupied beds) was registered in 2010 and the minimal value (14.84 per 100 occupied beds) in 2013. Injuries were mainly reported in patient rooms/wards (30.2%) and most frequently by nurses (56.1%). The mean of incident reporting within 24 hours was 74.0, 95% CI (67.19-80.73). This rate showed a statistically significant (p=0.01) increasing trend of 5.0% per annum. The mean of identified source patients - 83.5, 95% CI (79.13- 87.23) - possessed an annual 2.1% rise during 2005-2017 which was statistically insignificant (p=0.7). Cases occurred after the use/before disposal of items in 45.0% of cases and during the use of items in 44.7%. Hollow-bore needles caused injuries in 46.5% of incidents. Blood sample taking - 23.2% and IV or arterial line insertion/removal/manipulation (19.1%) - presented exposure-prone procedures posing the highest risk. Conclusions The results of this study revealed a high rate of NSI in the hospital. NSI rate in hospitals was impacted by a group of related risk factors, particularly, the location of risk (patient room/ward, intensive care unit (ICU), and emergency room (ER) depending on job intensity, the kind and frequency of exposure-prone procedures (blood sample taking, IV or arterial line insertion/removal/manipulation) and handling of hollow-bore and solid needle connected to the main healthcare professional group at risk (nurses). Future direction in NSI prevention requires a complex approach of continuous staff education along with the usage of devices with safety features.