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Review
. 2008 Aug;49(8):780-4.

Needlestick injuries in veterinary medicine

J Scott Weese  1 , Douglas C Jack
Affiliations
Review

Needlestick injuries in veterinary medicine

J Scott Weese et al. Can Vet J. 2008 Aug.

Abstract
in English, French

Needlestick injuries are an inherent risk of handling needles during the course of veterinary practice. While significant effort has been expended to reduce needlestick injuries in human medicine, a relatively lax approach seems to be prevalent in veterinary medicine. It appears that needlestick injuries are very common among veterinary personnel and that serious adverse effects, while uncommon, do occur. Clients may also receive injuries in clinics during the course of animal restraint, and at home following prescription of injectable medications or fluids. Because of occupational health, personal health, and liability concerns, veterinary practices should review the measures they are taking to reduce the likelihood of needlestick injuries and develop written needlestick injury avoidance protocols.

Blessures par piqûres d’aiguilles en médecine vétérinaire. Les blessures causées par les piqûres d’aiguilles constituent un risque inhérent à la manipulation des aiguilles en pratique vétérinaire. Alors que des efforts significatifs ont été consentis pour réduire les blessures causées par les aiguilles en médecine humaine, un certain laxisme semble prévaloir en médecine vétérinaire. Il apparait pourtant que les blessures causées par les piqûres d’aiguilles sont très fréquentes chez le personnel vétérinaire et que de sérieux incidents, quoique peu nombreux, se produisent. Les clients peuvent aussi être blessés en clinique en participant à l’immobilisation de leur animal ainsi qu’à la maison lors de l’administration de médicaments ou de fluides injectables prescrits. Pour des raisons de sécurité au travail, de santé et de responsabilité, les cliniques vétérinaires devraient revoir leurs mesures pour réduire les risques de blessures causées par les piqûres d’aiguilles et développer des protocoles écrits de prévention.

(Traduit par Docteur André Blouin)

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MeSH terms