Needlestick and sharps injuries among housekeeping workers in hospitals of Shiraz, Iran

BACKGROUND: Needlestick and sharps injuries (NSSIs) are one of the major risk factors for blood-borne infections (BBPs) at healthcare facilities. This study examines the current prevalence of NSSIs among housekeeping workers engaged in the handling and disposal of biomedical waste (BMW) at government and private hospitals in Shiraz, Iran, and furthermore, explores strategies for preventing these injuries. FINDINGS: Using a cross-sectional study design, NSSI's and associated protective measures for housekeeping workers throughout hospitals in Shiraz were evaluated from 2009 onwards. Using a questionnaire, data was collected for 92 workers who had engaged directly with BMW. Data was analyzed using Chi-square, student t-test and where appropriate, SPSS version 12. 90.2 % of housekeeping workers were warned of the dangers associated with waste, 87.5 % in government and 93.2 % in private hospitals (P = 0.0444). 83.7 % had attended educational programs on biomedical waste (BMW) management and injury prevention at their hospital in the preceding year. 16.3 % had not been trained in biomedical waste management (P = 0.0379) and 88.9 % had a sufficient supply of safety wear. CONCLUSIONS: NSSIs are a common risk factor for infection among health care workers within hospitals in Iran. For the effective prevention of these injuries, health boards and hospital trusts need to formulate strategies to improve the working conditions of health care workers, discourage the excessive use of injections, and increase their adherence to universal precautions.