People who work in the hospital including health care professionals like doctors are always at a serious risk of experiencing medical sharps injuries. This may occur from cannulas, needles, scales, sticks and other tools.
Also known as the needle stick injury, it occurs when the skin gets punctured by a used needle accidentally. This may seem like a normal cut but can lead to several problems. Hence, it becomes important to prevent the needle stick injury from happening.
Understanding Needle Stick Injury and Its Seriousness?
Needle Stick Injuries are unintentional puncture of the skin by a used needle. This is one of the most common accidents that happen, making it a common concern as well. Even the smallest skin lesion may indicate blood contact with a patient.
As insignificant as they may seem, the consequences it can bring can be really serious as one may get exposed to bloodborne viruses. Such injuries can also have potential long-term health effects where infectious diseases may occur like Hepatitis B or C, HIV and others.
In most cases, the wounds are easily taken care of. While in others, the situation may get worse with time. Regardless of the consequence, it is important to perform laboratory tests on the injured person regardless of their profession or role in the hospital.
What Attributes to Increasing the Risks of Needle Stick Injuries?
It is undoubtedly not the intention of any person to be exposed to needle stick injury. However, there are certain habits or you can say carelessness that can lead to it. Some of these include the following
- Not using the sharps as they are directed or improper work practices
- Recapping needles
- Lack of access to personal protective equipment.
- Not checking to see if staff members are receiving current training on proper disposal techniques.
- Passing the sharps from one healthcare professional to another
- Moving bodily fluid from one container to another
- Not properly discarding the used needles in sharps containers that are specially designed to withstand punctures.
- Failing to verify that staff members received the necessary training on using safer sharps.
What to Do If You Are Exposed to Needle Stick Injury?
If you are exposed to a needle stick injury, then there is no need to freak out. There are a few things that you must follow right away including
- Wash the wound immediately using soap and water. You can also use alcohol-based hand rubs for this step.
- Make sure to inform your safety officer at the health care facility. In this situation, you may be required to fill out an accident report form. This can help in conducting required tests and prevent the blood-borne virus from happening.
- Consult with the doctor as soon as possible.
Make sure to inform the original user of the sharp equipment after the accident as soon as possible. This may help them to take preventative measures of any kind if needed.
What are the Different Ways You Can Prevent Needle Stick Injuries?
There are a few ways that you can prevent needle stick injuries from happening. These ways include the following
- Make Sure to Do Proper Disposal
The healthcare facilities should make sure that these sharp disposal bins are located conveniently and are easy to get access to. Some of these areas where you can keep them are laboratories, patient rooms, and treatment zones. Additionally, when disposing of them, remember to take a visual inspection to ensure that the sharps do not have any openings and are securely fastened.
