Every day, health care workers are exposed to dangerous and deadly blood borne pathogens through contaminated needle sticks, sharps, or splash exposures. It is one of the greatest risks faced by the frontline health care worker. Every percutaneous needle stick and sharps injury carries a risk of infection from blood borne pathogens. Yet, these exposures often have been considered “part of the job.” Health care workers primarily are exposed to these pathogens via contaminated needle stick and sharps injuries. You probably know at least one colleague who has sustained an injury, or perhaps you have been stuck yourself. It is important that you and your colleagues fully understand these risks.
Every year, health care workers experience between 600,000 and 800,000 exposures to blood (United States Department of Labor-Occupational Safety and Health Administration [USDOL-OSHA], 2012). Registered nurses working at the bedside sustain an overwhelming majority of these injuries (Perry, Parker, & Jagger, 2012). These exposures carry the risk of infection with Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. Each of these viruses poses a different risk if a health care worker is exposed. More than 20 other infections can be transmitted through needle sticks, including syphilis, malaria, and herpes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2012). At least 5,000 health care workers are estimated to contract serious infections annually from
needle stick and sharps injuries (International Health Care Worker Safety Center, 2012). According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), the design of the device can increase the risk of injury. Specific features make certain devices more dangerous.
*Note: The Statics Stated Above Are More Than 5 Years Old IMAGINE What they are NOW!