Epidemiology of Needlestick Injuries Among Healthcare Workers in Tehran, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Healthcare workers (HCW) such as medical, dental, nursing and midwifery workers are at high risk for occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV through sharp injuries of needlestick.
The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of needlestick injuries (NSIs) among healthcare workers in Milad hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 2007 to 2011 and investigate the related factors of needle sticking in the hospital in order to decrease the risk of infectious diseases transmission due to needlestick injury.
This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed among healthcare workers including nursing staff, physicians, gynecologist, laboratory staff, cleaners and garbage collectors in Milad hospital in Tehran, Iran, over a five-year period from 2007 to 2011. All of the NSIs data was obtained from infection control committee in Milad hospital. Questionnaire sheets were filled up and all of the information was rechecked one more time by experts. The information included demographic questions and NSI related questions. Vaccination for HBV and titer of hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) were recorded. The association between demographic and needlestick characteristics was tested through working shifts.
In the current study, 608 out of 3806 hospital staff including 209 (34.3%) male and 399 (65.7%) female had NSIs over a five-year period in Milad hospital. Most of the NSIs was observed in enrolled nurse, nursing sister and midwife groups 308 (50.7%) followed by servants 122 (20.1%) and the lowest was found in laboratory staff 14 (2.3%). Staff who worked in the internal medicine ward 95 (15.6%), emergency ward 72 (11.8%) and intensive care unit (ICU) 58 (9.5%) had experienced NSIs. There were uniform time patterns of NSIs by working shifts; therefore, the lowest number of the injuries occurred in the start of working shift (7:00 am, 01:00 pm and 07:00 pm) and increased along the time. Most of the NSIs occurred through taking blood and injection 182 (29.9%). Compared to NSI data by working shift, the greater number of the injuries occurred in the evening and night, but it was not statistically significant through needlestick characteristics (P value > 0.05).
Nurses are at the highest risk for NSIs and servants the second. Staff training, proper use of protective equipment, proper disposal of infectious waste and vaccination of all staff against HBV might be effective measures towards reduction of the number of NSIs.