Sharps injuries amongst healthcare workers: review of incidence, transmissions and costs

Abstract

Background: Sharps injuries and the related risk of infections such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) represent one of the major occupational health risks for healthcare workers (HCWs).

Literature review: An overview of available data on the incidence of sharps injuries and the related HBV, HCV and HIV infections and ensuing costs is provided.

Results: Literature reported incidence rates of sharps injuries ranging from 1.4 to 9.5 per 100 HCWs, resulting in a weighted mean of 3.7/100 HCWs per year. Sharps injuries were associated with infective disease transmissions from patients to HCWs resulting in 0.42 HBV infections, 0.05-1.30 HCV infections and 0.04-0.32 HIV infections per 100 sharps injuries per year. The related societal costs had a mean of €272, amounting to a mean of €1,966 if the source patient was HIV positive with HBV and HCV co-infections.

Conclusion: Sharps injuries remain a frequent threat amongst HCWs. The follow-up and treatment of sharps injuries and the deriving consequences represent a significant cost factor.

Keywords: Haemodialysis; Infection; Nursing.