Nurs Stand. 2010 Mar 24-30;24(29):42-6

Using an intravenous catheter system to prevent needlestick injury.

Sossai D, Puro V, Chiappatoli G, et al
In 2003, a sharps awareness campaign began in San Martino Hospital in Genoa, Italy. In 2005, a safety catheter was introduced and healthcare workers were trained in its use. Data for all occupational accidents from 2003 to 2007 were collected and analysed.
After introduction of the sharps awareness campaign and use of safety catheters, reported incidents of sharps injuries involving catheters fell from 19 in 2004 to two in 2007 and in neither of those two cases were needlestick prevention devices used. Overall, the rate of needlestick injuries was 24.1 per 100,000 cases when conventional catheters were used and 0.4 per 100,000 cases with safety catheters.
The sharps awareness campaign and newly adopted needlestick prevention device may have contributed to the prevention of percutaneous injuries caused by catheters. Until the onset of the campaign, the reported annual incidence of needlestick injuries was six. This increased to a peak of 19 reported injuries in 2004, which could be attributed to improved reporting effected by the campaign.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2013 Sep;34(9):935-9. Doi: 10.1086/671733. Epub 2013 Jul 31

Issues in understanding the impact of the needlestick safety and prevention act on hospital sharps injuries.

Phillips EK, Conaway M, Parker G, Perry J, Jagger J.

A study carried out by the Infective Disease Division of the University of Virginia analysed the issues in understanding the impact of needlestick safety and prevention legislation on sharps injuries in healthcare workers. Data from 85 hospitals, dating from 1995 to 2005, were analysed. It turned out that a precipitous drop in injury rates, greater than one-third, occurred in 2001, immediately following the legislation. The decrease was sustained through 2005. The authors estimated annual reductions of more than 100,000 sharps injuries at a cost savings of $69-$415 million. The study suggests an association between the increase in safety-engineered devices and the reduction in overall injury rates. The decreases observed translate into significant reductions in injuries and associated costs.

G Ital Med Lav Ergon. 2010 Jul-Sep; 32(3):235-9

Update on the subject of epidemiology of blood-transmitted occupational infections.

Puro V, De Carli G, Segata A. et al.

Healthcare workers are exposed to many different pathogens, and cases of occupational infection have been reported involving the vast majority of known and emerging agents. The risk is present during all the phases of patient care and manipulation of biologic materials, therefore a preventive intervention required by law has become necessary. Percutaneous exposures represent an extremely frequent event in healthcare facilities; among the many pathogens acquired through this type of exposure, those of highest concern due to the frequency of exposure are HIV, HBV and HCV. In Europe, the Directive 2010/32/EU approved on May 10 2010 requires Member State to implement within three years a global strategy to prevent occupational exposures in the healthcare setting, particularly with respect to needlestick and sharp injuries, based on the use of devices incorporating safety features. In Italy the introduction of these devices, according to data collected by the SIROH, showed the possibility to decrease percutaneous exposures by 75%, an effect sustained over time if supported by information, education and training.

J Occup Med Toxicol.2013 Jul 29;8(1):20.doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-8-20

Reduction of needlestick injuries in healthcare personnel at a university hospital using safety devices.

Hoffmann C, Buchholz L, Schintzler P.

A recent study has concluded that the application of safety devices led to a reduction of needlestick injuries and significantly reduces the risk of bloodborne infections. In 2007, the year before the introduction of safety devices, 448 needlestick injuries were self-reported. The highest incidence was observed among medical staff in the surgery department and internal medicine and, of all occupational groups, nurses had the highest risk to sustain needlestick injuries. In 2008 safety devices were introduced across the hospital resulting in a reduction of 21, 9% of self-reported needlestick injuries, which were only 350, in 2009.