PREVENTION OF

NEEDLE PRICK INJURY

ICLN MISWATI MOHAMED DALI
&
ICLN EZZERINA OMAR
What is Needle prick/Sharp Injury ?
Needle stick injury. A needle stick injury,
percutaneous injury, or percutaneous exposure
incident or sharps injury is the penetration of the
skin by a needle or other sharp object, which has
been in contact with blood, tissue or other body
fluids before the exposure.
• Injuries occurs when people use ,dissemble or dispose
of needle.
• When not dispose of properly, needles can become
concealed in linen, or garbage and injure other
workers.
• Transmit infectious diseases especially blood borne
viruses.
1. Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
2. Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
3. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)—the virus
that causes AIDS
International Journal of Environmental Medicine 2014
 Who are at RISK ?

Any worker handling sharp devices or equipment such as,

scalpels, sutures, hypodermic needles, blood collection
devices, or phlebotomy devices is at risk.
• Nursing staff are most frequently injured.
• Emergency care provider.
• Labour and delivery personnel.
• surgeon and operation theatre staff.
• Lab technician.
• Health cleaning/Waste handlers.
• Ignoring Universal Work Precautions
Exposure to Needle stick Injuries

Source: CDC ‘needle stick injury among the HCP (2010)

 Contributing Factor

1. Recapping needle

2. Staff experience
new staff/ student/> experience staff

3. Equipment design
Safer innovative devices using protected needle devices
or needle free system with self sealing ports would
alleviate the injuries.
4. Condition of work
• Staff reduction –additional
duties.
• Difficult care patient situations.
• Working at night with reduced
lighting

5. Improper disposal
Prevention of Needle prick/Sharp Injury

 Before beginning any procedure using needles,

plan for safe handling and proper disposal.
 Do not recap, bend, disassemble or break needles.
 Dispose of used needles promptly in appropriate
sharps disposal containers
(Use closable, leak-proof puncture resistant
containers).
Prevention of Needle prick/Sharp Injury

 Dispose of sharps at point of use.

 Assemble sharps box correctly, do not overfill.
 Ensure temporary closure of sharps box.
 The user is responsible for disposing of sharps.
Prevention of Needle prick/Sharp Injury
 Position sharps box in a safe place, off the floor
& away from public access.
 Use devices with safety features.
 Report all needle stick and other sharps-related
injuries .
- If re-capping is absolutely required, use a recapping
device or the one-handed scoop technique:
1. Place the needle cap on the table.
2. Holding the syringe only, guide the needle into cap.
3. Lift up the syringe so cap is sitting on the needle
hub.
4. Secure needle cap into place.
 Closed the red lid
Cover of Sharp properly until has
bin to be closed sound ‘CLIK’
properly

To attached Date
complete labelling Open
at Sharp bin

Waste
Generator
 FLOW CHART OF NEEDLE/SHARP INJURY

Incident Occur

First aid treatment

Inform UM / HOS / Duty Manager

Notify Consultant of Refer victim to Medical Officer Notify Infection Control

patient involve (MO) Officer (ICO)

MO screen victim for

ICO carry out the
Screen patient (Hep B & C and HIV)
correction & corrective
(Hep B & C and HIV) action

If Hep B screening of MO issues referral MO issues letter

letter to Physician for for follow up Infection Control
patient is positive:- Committee to
Give Immunoglobulin to counseling & further screening
management, if (6 weeks, 12 review adequacy
victim within 24 hours of action taken
required weeks & 6 months)

If HIV screening of patient File for closure

is positive:-
Give antiretroviral to
victim within 24 hours;
refer to National guideline
antiretroviral therapy
(MMA)
Victim / UM / HOS / Duty
Manager to fill up Incident
Reporting form
Refer to PSH Incident
Reporting Pathway

ICO collects a copy of

result from victim

Data collection by OSH

Committee
Blood borne Pathogens Standard requirements include:

• Compliance with Universal Precautions (an infection control principle that

treats all human blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM)
as infectious).

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Engineering and work practice

controls shall be used to eliminate or minimize employee exposure.
Where occupational exposure remains after institution of these controls,
PPE shall also be used.

• Worker training in appropriate engineering controls and work practices,

to eliminate or minimize worker exposure.

• Proper handling and containerization of sharps.

• Hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series made available to all

employees with occupational exposure.

• Post-exposure evaluation and follow-up, including post-exposure

prophylaxis when appropriate