Combatting the Occurrence of Needle-stick Injuries in a Medical School: Why is It Still an Issue?

Overview

Journal BMC Med Educ

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Medical Education

Date 2024 Mar 21

PMID 38509544

Authors

Franca Keicher

Janina Zirkel

Tobias Leutritz

Sarah Konig

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Needle-stick injuries (NSIs) pose a safety risk for healthcare workers with great potential for serious infections. The aim was to determine numbers and causes of NSIs as well as the frequency with which medical students report NSIs in the final stages of study.

Methods: An online questionnaire was developed and made available in January and February 2023 to all undergraduate medical students (n = 423) in the last 1.5 years of their degree course at Würzburg University, Germany.

Results: The response rate was 19.6% (n = 84). Among respondents, 27.4% (n = 23) reported at least one NSI. Occurrence was particularly frequent in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, and internal medicine. Assisting with procedures, suturing, and blood sampling were considered high-risk activities. Lack of concentration, distraction, and time pressure played a role in incidents. Respondents did not report 18.8% of NSIs with the main reasons being fear of the consequences, self-assessment of the injury as minor, or the opinion of supervisors that reporting was unnecessary. Students with previous practice on simulators or patients were significantly more likely to suffer NSIs. Instructions from occupational health specialists beforehand correlated with fewer NSIs.

Conclusion: We assume that trained students are more experienced in handling invasive procedures, leading to a greater adoption of corresponding activities and thus an increased risk of injuries in absolute numbers. This does not counter the need for didactic interventions prior to workplace-based training to raise awareness of NSI risks. Simultaneously, concepts must be developed and implemented to support reporting and alleviate fears regarding consequences.

Citing Articles

The Prevalence of HIV Seroconversion in Healthcare Workers Following Sharp Injuries and Exposure to Biofluids.

Pineda-Ramirez J, Sierra-Diaz E, Zavala-Sanchez E, Zarate-Leal G, Cisneros-Garcia D, Hernandez-Munoz E Cureus. 2024; 16(8):e66773.

PMID: 39268289 PMC: 11392009. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.66773.

References

Bahat H, Hasidov-Gafni A, Youngster I, Goldman M, Levtzion-Korach O . The prevalence and underreporting of needlestick injuries among hospital workers: a cross-sectional study. Int J Qual Health Care. 2021; 33(1). DOI: 10.1093/intqhc/mzab009. View

Salzer H, Hoenigl M, Kessler H, Stigler F, Raggam R, Rippel K . Lack of risk-awareness and reporting behavior towards HIV infection through needlestick injury among European medical students. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2011; 214(5):407-10. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2011.05.002. View

Thomas W, Murray J . The incidence and reporting rates of needle-stick injury amongst UK surgeons. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2008; 91(1):12-7. PMC: 2752234. DOI: 10.1308/003588409X359213. View

Shen C, Jagger J, Pearson R . Risk of needle stick and sharp object injuries among medical students. Am J Infect Control. 1999; 27(5):435-7. DOI: 10.1016/s0196-6553(99)70010-6. View

Schmid K, Schwager C, Drexler H . Needlestick injuries and other occupational exposures to body fluids amongst employees and medical students of a German university: incidence and follow-up. J Hosp Infect. 2006; 65(2):124-30. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2006.10.002. View

Birenbaum D, Wohl A, Duda B, Runyon M, Stearns B, Willett M . Medical students' occupational exposures to potentially infectious agents. Acad Med. 2002; 77(2):185-9. DOI: 10.1097/00001888-200202000-00023. View

Elliott S, Casey A, Elliott T . Needlestick injuries during medical training. J Hosp Infect. 2006; 65(1):89-90. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2006.07.018. View

Cheetham S, Ngo H, Liira J, Liira H . Education and training for preventing sharps injuries and splash exposures in healthcare workers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021; 4:CD012060. PMC: 8094230. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012060.pub2. View

Calabro K, Weltge A, Parnell S, Kouzekanani K, Ramirez E . Intervention for medical students: effective infection control. Am J Infect Control. 1998; 26(4):431-6. DOI: 10.1016/s0196-6553(98)70041-0. View

10.

Berger C, Brinkrolf P, Ertmer C, Becker J, Friederichs H, Wenk M . Combination of problem-based learning with high-fidelity simulation in CPR training improves short and long-term CPR skills: a randomised single blinded trial. BMC Med Educ. 2019; 19(1):180. PMC: 6544917. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-019-1626-7. View

11.

Wu S, Huang C, Huang S, Yang Y, Liu C, Shulruf B . Effect of virtual reality training to decreases rates of needle stick/sharp injuries in new-coming medical and nursing interns in Taiwan. J Educ Eval Health Prof. 2020; 17:1. PMC: 7054630. DOI: 10.3352/jeehp.2020.17.1. View

12.

Papadopoli R, Bianco A, Pepe D, Pileggi C, Pavia M . Sharps and needle-stick injuries among medical residents and healthcare professional students: pattern and reporting in Italy-a cross-sectional analytical study. Occup Environ Med. 2019; 76(10):739-745. DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2019-105873. View

13.

Makary M, Al-Attar A, Holzmueller C, Sexton J, Syin D, Gilson M . Needlestick injuries among surgeons in training. N Engl J Med. 2007; 356(26):2693-9. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa070378. View

14.

Seng M, Lim J, Sng J, Kong W, Koh D . Incidence of needlestick injuries among medical students after implementation of preventive training. Singapore Med J. 2013; 54(9):496-500. DOI: 10.11622/smedj.2013171. View

15.

Wicker S, Jung J, Allwinn R, Gottschalk R, Rabenau H . Prevalence and prevention of needlestick injuries among health care workers in a German university hospital. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2007; 81(3):347-54. DOI: 10.1007/s00420-007-0219-7. View

16.

Siegmann S, Muth T, Kluth W, Hofbauer U, Angerer P, Schwarze S . [Needlestick Injuries to Medical Students]. Gesundheitswesen. 2015; 78(1):22-7. DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1387716. View

17.

Hofmann F, Kralj N, Beie M . [Needle stick injuries in health care - frequency, causes und preventive strategies]. Gesundheitswesen. 2002; 64(5):259-66. DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-28353. View

18.

Koenig S, Chu J . Medical student exposure to blood and infectious body fluids. Am J Infect Control. 1995; 23(1):40-3. DOI: 10.1016/0196-6553(95)90007-1. View

19.

Puro V, Petrosillo N, Ippolito G . Risk of hepatitis C seroconversion after occupational exposures in health care workers. Italian Study Group on Occupational Risk of HIV and Other Bloodborne Infections. Am J Infect Control. 1995; 23(5):273-7. DOI: 10.1016/0196-6553(95)90056-x. View

20.

Lauer A, Reddemann A, Meier-Wronski C, Bias H, Godecke K, Arendt M . Needlestick and sharps injuries among medical undergraduate students. Am J Infect Control. 2014; 42(3):235-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2013.08.013. View