Investigation and Analysis of Sharp Injuries among Health Care Workers from 36 Hospitals in Shandong Province, China

BACKGROUND: This study investigated and analyzed the current situation of sharp injuries among health care workers (HCWs) in China's Shandong Province. METHODS: By means of questionnaire survey, the incidence of sharp injuries among HCWs from 36 hospitals in China's Shandong Province in October 2019 was investigated, and the results of this survey were compared with those of October 2012. RESULTS: A total of 48165 HCWs were investigated. 549 cases of sharp injuries occurred. The incidence of sharp injuries was 1.14%, which was significantly lower than that in October 2012 (9.71%). In the occupational distribution of sharp injuries among HCWs, the proportion of nurses was 58.65%, doctors 23.32%, and interns 12.02%. Among the distribution of sharp injury departments, general wards, operating rooms, intensive care units, disinfection supply centers, and outpatient clinics were the high-incidence sites of occupational exposure among HCWs. The main instruments causing sharp injuries in HCWs were syringes, scalp steel needles, surgical suture needles, vacuum blood collection needles, and glass slides. Drug administration, double-handed loop needle cap, blood extraction, surgical suture needle, and arteriovenous needle extraction were high-risk operations causing sharp instrument injuries in HCWs. CONCLUSION: The incidence of sharp injuries among HCWs from 36 hospitals in Shandong Province in October 2019 was significantly lower than that in October 2012. Sharp injuries were a common type of occupational exposure for HCWs. The occurrence of sharp injuries should be effectively reduced by changing wrong habitual behavior and implementing standard protective measures.