Needle Stick Injury: A Decade Retrospection Among Health Care Workers in a Tertiary Care Center.

Needle stick injury (NSI) is a common incidence in a health care facility which can have a great impact on the psychological status of a health care worker (HCW). In the present study, over a decade, 76 incidents of NSI were reported. Nurses (47.3%) were at high risk followed by doctors (28.94%). Recapping (30.2%) was the major activity associated with NSI. Percutaneous injury (97.3%) with a hollow bore needle to the fingers was the most common type of injury. Three (3.9%) of the sources were positive for Hepatitis B virus (HBV), and one (1.3%) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Postexposure prophylaxis was administered to eight (10.5%) HCWs with high-risk exposure. The incidence of NSI is low, as there exists an underreporting which cannot be denied. Following stringent universal precautions and adoption of safety-guided devices can reduce the rate of injury to a great extent. Regular training, monitoring, auditing, and adequate control modalities are the core strategies to reduce the incidence of NSI.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis by a needlestick injury, an occupational infection?

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by over 20 species of Leishmania. Transmission is mainly via sandfly bites infected with promastigotes, through the placenta from mother to child, by sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, and occupationally acquired by direct inoculation into the skin. Clinical manifestations vary from self-limited cutaneous disease to a life-threatening visceral infection. In November 2021, a 29-year-old otherwise healthy dermatology resident suffered an accidental needlestick injury while performing a biopsy on a patient with a presumptive diagnosis of an infectious dermatosis, later confirmed as mucocutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania panamensis. Later, the resident developed an erythematous, painless papule at the point of inoculation, with a central ulcer and painful enlargement of ipsilateral lymph nodes. Biopsy was compatible with leishmaniasis. After completing a 20-day treatment with meglumine antimoniate, the ulcer had healed completely. At the 6-month follow-up, both patients remain asymptomatic. This case serves as a reminder that health providers should have the proper training and knowledge of their hospital management protocol for occupational injuries. Moreover, physicians should bear in mind that leishmaniasis is not exclusively transmitted by sandfly vectors.

Incidence, Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Toward Needle Stick Injury Among Health Care Workers in Abha City, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: A needle stick injury is a serious occupational health hazard in health care settings. Health care workers are at risk of bloodborne diseases and the psychological consequences of these injuries. This study aims to estimate the incidence of needle stick injuries among healthcare workers during the previous 12 months and to assess their knowledge, attitude, and practice toward these injuries. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st August 2019 till 15th February 2020, and included 786 healthcare workers in Abha city, Saudi Arabia. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. RESULTS: The incidence of needle stick injury among healthcare workers during the previous 12 months was (91/786) 11.57%. Nurses, females, and Saudis reported most needle stick injuries. More than half (52.7%) of the injuries went unreported. About 52.7% of needle stick injuries occurred during using sharp devices, and 42.9% of injuries happened in the patient room. The incidence of needle stick injury was significantly higher among those working at the secondary healthcare level (p = 0.003) and those practicing surgery (p < 0.001). Out of 786 participants, 94.7% knew the definition of needle stick injury, and 81.0% were aware of the procedure and guidelines to follow on sustaining a needle stick injury. Only 61.2% recognized that the recap of the needle is not recommended. Almost half of the participants (47.1%) agreed, and 33.6% strongly agreed that needle stick injury is preventable. A majority of healthcare workers (89.1%) had been vaccinated against Hepatitis B. Nearly 27.5% of healthcare workers incorrectly practiced recapping the needles with two hands and 8.7% bent needles before disposal. Recapping the needles was statistically significantly higher among healthcare workers who had a history of needle stick injury (p = 0. 046). CONCLUSION: Needle stick injury and its under reporting among healthcare professionals is still a prevalent risk. Raising awareness among healthcare workers and improving the reporting systems for needle stick injuries to ensure more protection and early use of post-exposure prophylaxis is required. Implementation of safety precautions and safe injection practices and providing engineered safety devices may further reduce the risk.

Re-examining Hepatitis B Postexposure Prophylaxis Following Pediatric Community-acquired Needle-stick Injury in an Era of a National Immunization Registry.

BACKGROUND: Long-term hepatitis B immunity has been demonstrated following the completion of the primary vaccination series in childhood. Some guidelines recommend a hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) directed approach following community-acquired needle-stick injury (CANSI) to inform hepatitis B postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) management. We assessed the utility of anti-HBs testing post-CANSI, as well as the costing of, and adherence to PEP at a pediatric hospital. METHODS: Children presenting to an Australian tertiary pediatric hospital post-CANSI (2014-2019) were identified retrospectively using medical and laboratory records. Immunization status was obtained from the Australian Immunisation Registry. RESULTS: Fifty-six children with CANSI were identified. Of those with immunization records, all had completed hepatitis B vaccinations (n = 52). At presentation, 44% (n = 23) had anti-HBs <10 IU/L, which was more likely in older (≥6 years, 68%) versus younger children (OR 4.59, P < 0.02). HBIG and hepatitis B vaccine adherence was 65% (15/23) and 78% (18/23), respectively. All children (n = 14) with anti-HBs ≥4 weeks postvaccination ±HBIG, demonstrated an anamnestic response. No hepatitis B infections were detected. Using completed immunizations versus anti-HBs levels as a marker of immunity to direct PEP resulted in a projected cost savings of AUD$ 4234. CONCLUSION: Anti-HBs levels <10 IU/L, despite previous vaccinations, were frequent in children post-CANSI, with many demonstrating an anamnestic response. Adherence to postexposure HBIG and hepatitis B vaccine was suboptimal using an anti-HBs directed approach. These data support re-evaluating PEP in an era of the national immunization registry; completion of hepatitis B vaccinations as a marker of immunity provides a practical approach, ensuring optimized care for pediatric CANSI.

Case Report: Could Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy Prevent Occupational Malaria following Blood Exposure?

Postexposure prophylaxis using artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) was prescribed to a malaria-naive nurse who experienced an injury with a hollow needle previously used on a patient admitted for severe imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria (blood parasitemia 10.8%). Artemether-lumefantrine, four tablets twice daily for 3 days, was started 12 hours after exposure, and no side effects were reported. During the six following months, she only developed one episode of fever that was associated with pyelonephritis. Biological follow-up, based on blood smears, molecular biology, and serology, did not evidence P. falciparum malaria. This case suggests that ACT can prevent occupational P. falciparum malaria following needle-stick injury. We found evidence of only one other unpublished similar case where a Turkish resident doctor did not develop malaria after postexposure prophylaxis using ACT. Such a prophylaxis could be prescribed not only in case of occupational exposure to Plasmodium spp. in nonvector-borne laboratory-acquired infections but also following blood exposure in healthcare setting.

Flexor Compartment Infection Secondary to Bovine Injection Needlestick Injury: A Case Report.

CASE: Animal injection-related needlestick injuries are a common occupational hazard for livestock workers and veterinarians. Although often unreported, these injuries can cause significant damage and may require extensive medical and surgical management. This case describes a 69-year-old farmer who accidentally injected his forearm while vaccinating cattle, resulting in a flexor compartment infection. Conservative management with oral and intravenous antibiotics was unsuccessful, and he required multiple surgical debridements for definitive treatment CONCLUSIONS:: Animal injection-related needlestick injuries can present unique challenges to orthopaedic surgeons. Important considerations include the injury location, needle type, vaccine volume and components, injection pressure, and environmental contaminants.

Efficacy and safety of a rosehip seed oil extract in the prevention and treatment of skin lesions in the hands of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus caused by finger prick blood glucose monitoring; a randomized, open-label, controlled clinical trial. / Eficacia y seguridad del aceite de rosa mosqueta en las lesiones de los dedos provocadas por las punciones capilares para el control glucémico en niños con diabetes tipo 1; un ensayo clínico aleatorizado, abierto, controlado.

INTRODUCTION: This study was intended to assess the efficacy and safety of a rosehip seed oil (RHO) extract in the prevention and treatment of skin lesions in the hands of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) caused by finger prick blood glucose monitoring. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label, rater-blinded trial in patients aged 6-17 years with T1DM and intensive blood glucose control (≥7 finger pricks daily) for 12 days. Three main variables (erythema, skin thickening, and loss of skin integrity) were assessed using a scale ranging from 0 (absent) to 3 (severe involvement). The study was approved by the ethics committee of the hospital. RESULTS: Sixty-eight children, and thus 136 hands, were included; 80 hands received rosehip seed oil and 56 hands acted as controls. Baseline characteristics of both groups were similar, with 76.3% and 78.6% of the hands respectively showing skin lesions at study start. Median final global assessment was 0.10 (0.03; 0.30) in the group that received rosehip seed oil and 0.06 (0.00; 0.23) in the control group. A statistically significant improvement in global assessment was found in the control group (P=0.049). No significant differences were found when the medians of the other main variables were compared. No adverse effects were recorded. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of skin lesions secondary to finger prick glucose monitoring, most of them mild lesions, was found at study start. Treatment with rosehip seed oil was safe and was not effective for improving skin lesions.

Proximally Based Split Abductor Hallucis Turnover Flap for Medial Hindfoot Reconstruction: A Case Report.

Limited reconstructive options exist for soft tissue defects of the foot and ankle because of a lack of surrounding tissue. Although microsurgical free flaps have become a popular treatment modality for this anatomic region, pedicled muscle flaps can provide robust coverage of small foot wounds with significantly less donor site comorbidity. One such muscle is the abductor hallucis, which can be used as a proximally based turnover flap to cover medial hindfoot defects. However, complete distal disinsertion of the muscle may lead to loss of support over the medial arch and first metatarsophalangeal joint, leading to pes planus and hallux valgus. In this case report, we describe a modified technique of a split abductor hallucis turnover flap for a young patient with a chronic, traumatic medial heel wound complicated by calcaneal osteomyelitis. By preserving part of the muscle's distal tendinous attachment, this technique allows for adequate soft tissue coverage while maintaining long-term biomechanical function.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus meningitis after needlestick injury: a case report.

Background: Needlestick accidents while handling of infectious material in research laboratories can lead to life-threatening infections in laboratory personnel. In laboratories working with the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), the virus can be transmitted to humans through needlestick injury and lead to serious acute illness up to meningitis. Case presentation: We report of a case of LCMV meningitis in a laboratory worker who sustained a penetrating needlestick injury with a LCMV-contaminated hollow needle whilst disposing of a used syringe into the sharps waste bin. Four days after needlestick injury the laboratory worker developed a systemic disease: 11 days after exposure, she was diagnosed with meningitis with clinical signs and symptoms of meningismus, photophobia, nausea and vomiting, requiring hospitalisation. The PCR was positive for LCMV from the blood sample. 18 days after exposure, seroconversion confirmed the diagnosis of LCMV-induced meningitis with an increase in specific LCMV-IgM antibodies to 1:10'240 (day 42: 1:20'480). Ten weeks after exposure, a follow-up titre for IgM returned negative, whereas IgG titre increased to 1:20'480. Conclusions: This is the first case report of a PCR-documented LCMV meningitis, coupled with seroconversion, following needlestick injury. It highlights the importance of infection prevention practices that comprise particularly well established safety precaution protocols in research laboratories handling this pathogenic virus, because exposure to even a small amount of LCMV can lead to a severe, life-threatening infection.

Influencing Vaccinations: A Buzzy Approach to Ease the Discomfort of a Needle Stick-a Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The rate of annual influenza immunization in both the general public and health care workers is less than desirable. Mechanisms to improve compliance with recommendations are needed; prevention of immunization site pain has been suggested as a viable route because fear of pain and needles has been cited as a barrier. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of thermomechanical stimulation (Buzzy) on postprocedure pain ratings during vaccination in adults. DESIGN: This was a randomized controlled trial of Buzzy during immunization. SETTINGS: Three hospitals and two community health centers which are part of a large, integrated health system. PARTICIPANTS/SUBJECTS: Employees presenting to employer-sponsored annual influenza vaccination clinics. METHODS: A 10-cm visual analog scale was used to rate preinjection anxiety and expectation of pain as well as postprocedure pain scores; participants also rated their satisfaction with the vaccine injection on a 10-point Likert scale. RESULTS: In total, 497 employee volunteers were recruited to participate. Preprocedure anxiety was similar between the experimental and control groups (1.53 vs. 1.48, p = .82), whereas self-reported postprocedure pain scores were significantly lower in the group that received the Buzzy during injection (0.87 vs. 1.12, p = .035). Mean satisfaction scores did not vary between the intervention and control groups (9.11 vs. 9.09, p = .87); however, more participants rated their experience as better than previous vaccination experiences in the Buzzy group than control (62.0% vs. 23.9%, p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that Buzzy reduced pain experienced by adults undergoing annual influenza vaccination and may improve overall experience. Buzzy can be used in adult patients to reduce pain during immunization and is especially effective in those with high levels of anxiety.

Infectious risk for healthcare workers: evaluation and prevention.

Exposure to pathogenic agents is a major occupational risk factor in healthcare facilities. The most common pathogenic agents are human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C viruses, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In Italy, about 70-80% of all cases of exposure to biological agents result from injuries caused by needles or other sharp instruments used during healthcare procedures. These accidents place a high economic burden on healthcare facilities. Indeed, each event is estimated to cost around € 375. Various studies have shown that the adoption of needlestick-prevention devices reduces occupational exposure to biological risk. At regulatory level, Italian Legislative Decrees 81/08 and 19/14 provide for measures to protect healthcare professionals from biological exposure to pathogenic agents.

Hepatitis B and C: Seroprevalence, knowledge, practice and associated factors among medicine and health science students in Northeast Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Health care professionals, especially medical students, are at greater risk of contracting hepatitis B and C virus infections due to their occupational exposure to percutaneous injuries and other body fluids. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among medicine and health science students in Northeast Ethiopia and to assess their knowledge and practice towards the occupational risk of viral hepatitis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a total of 408 medicine and health science students during the period from March to September 2017. A pre-coded self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on students' socio- demographic characteristics, knowledge and practice of hepatitis B and C infections. Blood samples were collected and screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies. SPSS version 20 statistical software was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of HBV infection was 4.2% (95% CI 2.5 to 6.1%) and 0.7% (95% CI 0.0 to 1.7%) for HCV. Older age (AOR = 15.72, 95% CI 1.57-157.3) and exposure to needlestick injury (AOR = 3.43, 95% CI 1.10-10.73) were associated with a higher risk of HBV infection. Majority of the students (80.1%) had an adequate knowledge about hepatitis B and C infection, mode of transmission and preventive measures. Only 50.0% of students had safe practice towards occupational risk of viral hepatitis infection. Almost half (49.8%) of students experienced a needlestick injury; of which, 53.2% reported the incidence, and only 39.4% had screening test result for viral hepatitis. CONCLUSION: A high seroprevalence but poor practice of hepatitis B and C virus infection was found in the study area despite their good knowledge towards occupational risk of viral hepatitis infection.

Accidental Injection of Freund Complete Adjuvant With Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.

Accidental needlestick injuries are common in laboratory and health care workers. Injection of atypical pathogens, such as those encountered in the animal laboratory setting, may pose considerable problems at the site of inoculation. We present the case of an otherwise healthy laboratory worker who accidentally self-injected Freund complete adjuvant with heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis into her hand, requiring multiple debridement operations over a prolonged treatment course.

The impact of occupational splash, sharps and needlestick injuries (SSNIs) on the quality of life of healthcare workers in a Kenyan university hospital.

BACKGROUND: Infection as a consequence of splash sharps and needlestick injuries (SSNIs) is a hazard faced by healthcare workers. Little is known about the impact this has on quality of life particularly in countries where the risk of infection is high. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to describe the impact SSNIs have on the quality of life of healthcare workers in Kenya, where blood borne illness prevalence is high. METHODS: A hospital-wide survey of a facility in Nairobi was conducted. Data was collected online from at risk healthcare workers using Burckhardt and Anderson's Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) and a 10-item symptoms questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 416 participants, 192 (46.2%) had experienced SSNIs. Their mean QOLS scores were considerably lower than that predicted for a healthy population. The relationship between symptoms and QOLS scores showed a strong positive correlation (Pearson's r = 0.753). Tests of association between QOLS scores and SSNI type, anti-retroviral (ARV) drug use, educational level and staff cadre revealed significant association (p < 0.05). However, on key demographic variables, the association was non-dependent, indicating that the impact was felt similarly by many staff. CONCLUSIONS: SSNIs clearly impact on healthcare workers quality of life. Hospital management should ensure measures are taken to reduce SSNIs and provide appropriate personal protection equipment. For staff experiencing an SSNI, psychological wellbeing should be assessed and appropriate expert help provided.

Non-pharmacological measures in preterm newborns submitted to arterial puncture.

OBJECTIVE: to assess pain in preterm newborns and to compare the neonatal and therapeutic variables with the total scores of the Neonatal Facial Coding System of preterm newborns submitted to arterial puncture exposed to music and 25% oral glucose. METHOD: a comparative study with 48 recordings of preterm newborns - Group 1, music (26); Group 2, glucose 25% (22) - individually analyzed by three trained nurses, after Kappa of at least 80%. RESULTS: the variables and the pain scores of the groups did not present statistical significance (p < 0.05) according to the Neonatal Facial Coding System. 80.8% of the preterm infants in Group 1 had a higher quantitative score ≥ 3 in the neonatal variables (gender, type of delivery), and therapeutic variables (type of oxygen therapy, place of hospitalization, type of puncture). CONCLUSION: There was no difference when comparing the music and glucose 25% groups and the variables studied.

Mycobacterium ulcerans low infectious dose and mechanical transmission support insect bites and puncturing injuries in the spread of Buruli ulcer.

Addressing the transmission enigma of the neglected disease Buruli ulcer (BU) is a World Health Organization priority. In Australia, we have observed an association between mosquitoes harboring the causative agent, Mycobacterium ulcerans, and BU. Here we tested a contaminated skin model of BU transmission by dipping the tails from healthy mice in cultures of the causative agent, Mycobacterium ulcerans. Tails were exposed to mosquito (Aedes notoscriptus and Aedes aegypti) blood feeding or punctured with sterile needles. Two of 12 of mice with M. ulcerans contaminated tails exposed to feeding A. notoscriptus mosquitoes developed BU. There were no mice exposed to A. aegypti that developed BU. Eighty-eight percent of mice (21/24) subjected to contaminated tail needle puncture developed BU. Mouse tails coated only in bacteria did not develop disease. A median incubation time of 12 weeks, consistent with data from human infections, was noted. We then specifically tested the M. ulcerans infectious dose-50 (ID50) in this contaminated skin surface infection model with needle puncture and observed an ID50 of 2.6 colony-forming units. We have uncovered a biologically plausible mechanical transmission mode of BU via natural or anthropogenic skin punctures.