Review the Risk Factors of Needle Stick and Exposure to Patients Contaminated Fluids and the Effects of Methods to Reduce Occupational Injuries in Surgical Personnel

Introduction & Occupational infections (HIV, HBV, and HCV) are serious problem of health systems. It is reported; over 35 million health care workers are exposed to mcucutaneous injuries caused by contaminated sharps objects. These infections transmit to through blood and body fluid of patients during cares by needle stick and splashes the blood or body fluids (BBF) to personnel. Surgical ward and the operating room personnel are at high risk of developing occupational infections due to perform invasive procedures, repeated exposure to BBF of patients and using sharp instruments.
In This literature review study based on Inclusion criteria (Researches that were done in the last 10 years in health care settings) and in order to determine the risk factors and effectiveness of strategies to reduce the incidence rate of occupational infections, 17 external and 10 internal articles were selected and analyzed.
The results of the researches show a high prevalence (30%-80%) of NSI and mucocutaneous exposure to BBF. It is reported a high prevalence among nurses and in operating room. The most mucocutaneous exposures are accrued in operating room (26.6% - 76%), among nurses (44% - 73%), during suturing and recapping of needle. To prevent NSI and mucocutaneous exposures, standard precautions in all health care setting are strongly recommended. It has been shown, during surgery to perform the measures such as use of the neutral zone, use of protective equipment and safety sharp instruments, safe handling of sharps, wearing two gloves in all surgeries, and report sharp injuries, have considerable effectiveness. The studies introduce the factors, include work Stress, high volume work, fatigue, work experience, urgency of the procedures, rush, and the small number of personnel as causes of injuries.
Prevention of needle stick injuries due to the high prevalence is considered priorities of surgical wards and operating room. On the basis of the work features and accurate record of exposures, Health care facilities Managers and nursing administrators, can perform appropriate prevention strategies.