Needlestick injuries are wounds caused by sharps that accidentally puncture the skin. Needlestick injuries are a hazard for people who work with hypodermic syringes and other needle equipment. These injuries can occur at any time when people use, disassemble, or dispose of needles.

1. DR. ROMA GOYAL
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
MICROBIOLGY DEPARTMENT
NEEDLE STICK INJURY
(NSI)

2. NEEDLE STICK INJURIES
• Needlestick injuries are wounds
caused by sharps that accidentally
puncture the skin.
• Needlestick injuries are a hazard for
people who work with hypodermic
syringes and other needle
equipment.
• These injuries can occur at any time
when people use, disassemble, or
dispose of needles.

3. WHAT ARE ‘SHARPS’
• Sharps are the devises that are intentionally
sharp to puncture or cut skin (scalpels,
needles etc.) or accidently becomes sharps
such as broken glass tubes.

4. What Kinds of Devices Usually
Cause Sharps Injuries?
• Hypodermic needles
• Blood collection needles
• Needles used in IV delivery systems
• Scalpels

5. CAUSES OF SHARP INJURIES
•STRESS......... LACK OF TIME AND PATIENCE
•CARELESSNESS WHILE WORKING
•PASSING SHARPS FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER
•LACK OF KNOWLEDGE....... CARELENESS FOR NSI.

6. How Many Needle Stick Injuries
occur in the U.S.A.?
• The Department of Health Services
reported that 600,000 to 800,000 needle
stick injuries occur each year
• A CDC study estimated that 385,000
occur in the hospital (>1,000/day)
• ~5% of these were technologists
That is 52 injuries a day!
www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/t000622a.html and NaSH 1995-Dec 2003
https://www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety/ppt/2preventingneedlesticksparti.ppt

7. What Infections Can Be Caused
by Sharps Injuries?
• More than 20 bloodborne pathogens
• The pathogens that pose the most serious health risks
are:
-Hepatitis B virus (HBV) –
-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) –
-Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

8. Who is at risk?????
• Nursing staff
• Health care providers
• Labour and delivery room personnel
• Surgeons and operation theatre staff
• Lab technicians
• Dentists
• Health cleaning/ mortuary
staff/Waste handlers

11. Based on the Prior CDC Slide
Needle Injuries Occur….
• 35% During sharps clean up and disposal
• 28% Manipulating needle in patient
• 10% Colliding with co-worker
• 0.6% Recapping needle
Did you notice?
35% happens AFTER the procedure during clean
up and disposal

12. Sharps Safety
• Prepare to use the device the
moment the sharp is first opened
• Take precautions while using sharps
• Take precautions during cleanup
• Take precautions during disposal
www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety

13. Sharps Safety Practices
• Be Prepared
• Be Aware
• Dispose with Care
www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety

14. Be Prepared
Before Beginning a Procedure
• Wash Hands and Wear Gloves
• Organize equipment at point of use
• Use needleless systems when appropriate
• Use adequate lighting
• Keep sharps pointed away from the user
• Plan ahead- Have sharps disposal nearby
• Assess the patient’s ability to cooperate
• Get help if necessary
• Ask the patient to avoid sudden movement
www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety

15. Be Aware
During a Procedure
• Keep sharps visible
• Avoid distractions
• Never hand off or leave needles or sharps for others to dispose
• Loudly state “Sharps” when handling sharps
• Maintain a safe zone around sharps being used
• Always activate the safety device on needles immediately
after each use
• Be aware of staff nearby
• Control the location of sharps to avoid injury
• Use predetermined neutral zone for placing/retrieving sharps
• Do not hand-pass exposed sharps from person to person
• Alert others when sharps are being passed
SCPNC.MCW-ADM.128 and www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety and

16. •Do not bend* or break
needles
•Do not recap*
needles/scalpels
*Exception: contaminated sharps may be bent, recapped or
removed from devices if the procedure is performed using a
mechanical device or one-handed technique

17. Be Aware
During a Procedure continued….
• Contaminated sharps that are reusable are to
be placed immediately after use into
designated holder (Shortstop™) and should be
handled using some type of tong
(hemostat/forceps) or device SCPNC.MCW-IP.063
• Plan for safe handling and disposal of sharps
before using them

18. Clean up and Dispose with Care
During Cleanup
• Be accountable for sharps you use
• Do not disassembled needles from
syringes by hand prior to disposal
• Use hemostat/forceps to move items
when uncovering/checking procedure trays,
waste materials, and bedding for exposed
sharps
• Look for sharps/equipment left
behind inadvertently
www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety

19. Clean Up and Dispose with Care
While Disposing of Sharps
• Inspect container
• Keep hands behind sharps
• Never put hands or fingers into sharps container
• If you dispose sharps with attached tubing be aware
that it can recoil and lead to injury
• Maintain control of both tubing and the device
during disposal

20. Clean Up and Dispose with Care
After Disposing of Sharps
• Visually inspect sharps container
for overfilling
• Replace containers when no
more than ¾ full SCPMC.MCW-IP.063
y

21. Clean Up and Dispose with Care
If you Find improperly Disposed
Sharps in Work Environment
• Handle Carefully
• Keep hands behind sharps at all times
• Use mechanical device (e.g. tong/hemostat)
if you cannot safety pick up sharps by hand

22. Your Part in Prevention
• Adhere to safe practices
• Support co-workers in safety practices
• Report injuries or blood/body fluid exposures,
sharps injury hazards, and near misses
• Participate in training for devices and properly
use sharps safety features
• Participate in safe culture and
device evaluation
www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety

24. The Diagnostic Imaging
Safety Bee says:
“Don’t get stung
by a workplace injury...
be A.W.A.R.E.!”
BE SAFE
E
Expect zero
injuries
A
Allow
enough time
A
Assess the
situation
W
Watch for
hazards
R
Rely on
others
Be
A.W.A.R.E.!
ASSESS – assess the situation to determine the safest manner in which to
perform the job or task. Determine what tools or equipment may be needed
before you proceed.
WATCH – watch for hazards and anything out of the ordinary that might
compromise yours or your patient’s safety. Make sure nothing is obstructing
your work area or your workflow.
ALLOW – allow enough time to perform the job in a safe manner; don’t rush.
Work efficiently but never compromise yours or your patient’s safety to save
time.
RELY – rely on others to assist you if needed to perform the job safely; ask for
help. Don’t attempt to do the job by yourself if a team approach is better and
safer.
EXPECT – expect zero injuries; expect that you can reach our workplace
safety goal and expect a positive outcome. Challenge yourself to never get
stung by a workplace injury.

25. Your Part in Prevention
• Tell your employer about any sharps hazards
you observe
• Participate in training related to infection
prevention
• Get a Hepatitis B vaccination
• Wear gloves
• Wash Hands
Sharps fall under OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030.

26. Do not hand pass sharps from one
person to another....

27. Do not use bare hands to sort
procedure tray....

28. During Disposal:

29. Do not use sharps box without cover....

30. NO RECAPPING....

31. remove sharps using a mechanical device

33. THANK YOU !!!