Percutaneous Injury, Blood Exposure, and Adherence to Standard Precautions: Are Hospital-Based Health Care Providers Still at Risk?

Bradley N Doebbeling; Thomas E Vaughn; Kimberly D McCoy; Susan E Beekmann; Robert F Woolson; Kristi J Ferguson; James C Torner

doi:10.1086/377535

Back

Percutaneous Injury, Blood Exposure, and Adherence to Standard Precautions: Are Hospital-Based Health Care Providers Still at Risk?

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Percutaneous Injury, Blood Exposure, and Adherence to Standard Precautions: Are Hospital-Based Health Care Providers Still at Risk?

Bradley N Doebbeling, Thomas E Vaughn, Kimberly D McCoy, Susan E Beekmann, Robert F Woolson, Kristi J Ferguson and James C Torner

Clinical infectious diseases, Vol.37(8), pp.1006-1013

10/15/2003

DOI: 10.1086/377535

PMID: 14523763

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1086/377535View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

To examine factors associated with blood exposure and percutaneous injury among health care workers, we assessed occupational risk factors, compliance with standard precautions, frequency of exposure, and reporting in a stratified random sample of 5123 physicians, nurses, and medical technologists working in Iowa community hospitals. Of these, 3223 (63%) participated. Mean rates of hand washing (32%–54%), avoiding needle recapping (29%–70%), and underreporting sharps injuries (22%–62%; overall, 32%) varied by occupation (P < .01). Logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds of percutaneous injury (aORinjury), which increased 2%–3% for each sharp handled in a typical week. The overall aORinjury for never recapping needles was 0.74 (95% CI, 0.60–0.91). Any recent blood contact, a measure of consistent use of barrier precautions, had an overall aORinjury of 1.57 (95% CI, 1.32–1.86); among physicians, the aORinjury was 2.18 (95% CI, 1.34–3.54). Adherence to standard precautions was found to be suboptimal. Underreporting was found to be common. Percutaneous injury and mucocutaneous blood exposure are related to frequency of sharps handling and inversely related to routine standard-precaution compliance. New strategies for preventing exposures, training, and monitoring adherence are needed.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Percutaneous Injury, Blood Exposure, and Adherence to Standard Precautions: Are Hospital-Based Health Care Providers Still at Risk?
Creators: Bradley N Doebbeling - Program in Health Services Research, Veterans' Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa
Thomas E Vaughn - Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa
Kimberly D McCoy - Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Susan E Beekmann - Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Robert F Woolson - Department of Biometry and Epidemiology, Medical College of the University of South Carolina, Charleston
Kristi J Ferguson - Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa
James C Torner - Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Clinical infectious diseases, Vol.37(8), pp.1006-1013
DOI: 10.1086/377535
PMID: 14523763
NLM abbreviation: Clin Infect Dis
ISSN: 1058-4838
eISSN: 1537-6591
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
Language: English
Date published: 10/15/2003
Academic Unit: Statistics and Actuarial Science; Health Management and Policy; Epidemiology; Biostatistics; Surgery; Nursing; Injury Prevention Research Center; General Internal Medicine; Neurosurgery; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984214706502771

Metrics

14 Record Views

118 Times Cited - Web of Science