A needle stick injury is a puncture wound from a needle or other sharp object. Healthcare workers who frequently deal with blood, such as nurses, physicians, and laboratory technicians, are most at risk. Nearly 40% of needle stick injuries occur in patient rooms, and the most common devices involved are disposable syringes, suture needles, and intravenous catheters. To reduce risk, healthcare workers should avoid recapping needles, properly dispose of sharps in puncture-proof containers, and follow post-exposure procedures like washing and PEP if exposed. Proper needle disposal and a one-handed recapping technique can help prevent accidental needle sticks.

1. Needle stick injuries
Presented by:
Ms. Zoya Ali Makrani
Department of MSN

2. WHAT IS NEEDLE STICK INJURY:
• A NEEDLE STICK INJURY is a percutaneous piercing wound
typically set by a needle point, but possibly also by other sharp
instruments or objects.

3. WHO ARE AT RISK FOR BLOOD BORNE
INFECTION DUE TO NSI ?
• Health care worker with frequent blood exposures are nursing
staff, nursing students, physicians, surgeons, emergency care
providers, dentists, interns and medical students, labour and
delivery room personnel, laboratory technicians, health facility
cleaning staff and clinical waste handlers.

5. Places where sharp injuries occur:
• Patient Room 39% (Inpatient: Medical – ICUs )
• Operating Room 27%
• Outpatient 8%
• ER 8%
• Laboratory 5%
• Other 13%

6. 39%
27%
8%
5%
13%
8%
places where sharp injuries occur
patient
room
operating
room
outpetient
laboratory
other
ER

7. Devices involved in sharp injuries :
• six Devices Account for 78% of All Injuries
• Disposable Syringes 30%
• Suture Needles 20%
• Winged-Steel Needles 12%
• Intravenous Catheter Stylets 5%
• Phlebotomy Needles 3%
• Scalpels 8%

9. When do sharp injuries occur.?
• Dispose of needles
• Administer injections
• Draw blood
• Recap needles
• Handle trash and dirty linens

10. FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE RISK FOR
ACQUIRING HIV
• Type and efficacy of exposure
• Depth of injury
• Size and type of needle
• Amount of blood HIV status of source Amount of virus present
in the contaminated fluid 10

11. Role of nurse in reducing risk of sharp
injuries:
Do’s Don’ts
Use needle cutter/destroyer Handle, empty, or transfer used
sharps between containers.
Separate sharps from other waste Do not recap sharps before
disposal
Use rigid, puncture proof disposal
bins
• Empty sharps containers when
they are ¾ full

12. How to reduce NSI:
• Avoid use of needles where safe and effective alternatives are
available.
• Avoid recapping of the needles.
• During handling of needles one should be very careful & it
should be promptly disposed of only in sharp disposal
containers.
• Take three doses of hepatitis B vaccine. It gives you life long
protection
• Take Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in the event of any
occupational exposure

13. Management of NSI
 Do not panic or put finger in mouth or squeeze the wound to
bleed it.
 Immediately wash the wound and surrounding skin with soap
and water, and rinse it.
 Do not scrub or use bleach, chlorine, alcohol, betadine, iodine,
antiseptics/detergents or any antibiotics on the wound.

14. One handed needle recapping technique:
• Definition:
• One-handed needle recapping is a method that place
the cap to needle on clean and safe place such as
inside a big tray
• Purpose: To prevent own finger or another person by
needle from sticking accidentally.

15. Procedure:
Action Rationale
1.Until giving injection:
1) Before giving the injection, place the needle cover
on a solid, immovable object such as the rim of a
bedside table or big tray.
2) The open end of the cap should face the nurse
and be within reach of the nurse’s dominant, or
injection hand.
3)Give the injection.
Plan safe handling and disposal if needles before
beginning the procedure.
2. Recapping:
1) Place the tip of the needle at the entrance of the
cap.
2)Gently slide the needle into the needle cover.
This method can allow time
3. Once the needle is inside the cover, use the
object’s resistance to completely cover the
needle.
Confirm that the needle is covered by the cap.

16. Dispose of the needle at
the first opportunity
This can reduce the risk
of needle-sticking
Perform hand hygiene. To prevent the spread of
infection