Researchers found that increased regulatory and industry attention to sharps disposal led to a dramatic drop in sharp disposal-related injuries, according to research published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
Researchers compared rates of sharp disposal-related injuries from 1993 to 1994 and 2006 to 2007 to see how improvements in sharps disposal practices impacted injury rates. They relied on data from the EPINet Sharps Injury Surveillance Research Group. Of 69 hospitals reporting data from 1993 to 1994, there were 7,854 total percutaneous injuries. Of 33 hospitals that reported data from 2006 to 2007, there were 1,901 total injuries.
Of the percutaneous injuries in 1993 to 1994, 36.8 percent were related to sharp disposals, while 19.3 percent of percutaneous injuries were related to sharp disposals in 2006 to 2007. From these two times periods, there was a 53 percent decline in sharp disposal-related injuries, suggesting newly engineered disposal containers and sharp devices has helped improve injury rates.
Researchers compared rates of sharp disposal-related injuries from 1993 to 1994 and 2006 to 2007 to see how improvements in sharps disposal practices impacted injury rates. They relied on data from the EPINet Sharps Injury Surveillance Research Group. Of 69 hospitals reporting data from 1993 to 1994, there were 7,854 total percutaneous injuries. Of 33 hospitals that reported data from 2006 to 2007, there were 1,901 total injuries.
Of the percutaneous injuries in 1993 to 1994, 36.8 percent were related to sharp disposals, while 19.3 percent of percutaneous injuries were related to sharp disposals in 2006 to 2007. From these two times periods, there was a 53 percent decline in sharp disposal-related injuries, suggesting newly engineered disposal containers and sharp devices has helped improve injury rates.
Related Articles on Sharps:
15 Most Common OSHA Citations in Healthcare
Top 10 OSHA Citations in the Healthcare Industry
Call to Action Aims to Protect Healthcare Workers From Bloodborne Diseases