Seven-Year Evaluation of Percutaneous and Mucosal Injury in Health-Care Professionals

INTRODUCTION: Hospital environments are places where patients are admitted due to sharp object injuries. Therefore, hospitals pose a risk for many diseases that can be transmitted by blood products. Although many diseases can be transmitted as a result of stab wounds, the most important ones are Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C, and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus. In our study, it was aimed to evaluate stab wounds in a 7-year period.
METHODS: A total of 452 injuries from two different centers were included in the study. Age, gender, time of the injury, serological results of the patient and the personnel exposed to the injury, type of injury, duration of duty of the health personnel, type of exposure, occupational group, and location of the injury were scanned from the Infection Control Committee records and recorded in the study forms.
RESULTS: The mean age of the cases was 29.7±8.2, and 272 (60.2%) were women. The most frequently injured health personnel were nurses and trainees. A majority of the (81.2%) injuries were caused by the needle tip. Source serology was determined in 67.3% of the cases and serologic positivity was found in 19.4% of them. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, no stab wounds were reported in the units dealing with COVID-19 patients during this period.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Despite the precautions taken, stab wounds still continue to be an important problem today. The fact that a significant portion of these injuries is preventable increases the importance of the problem. Especially, with the COVID-19 pandemic, the fact that sharp object injuries were not reported in the units where these patients were treated shows that the injuries can be seriously reduced if the personnel comply with the precautions and safety precautions at the maximum level. It should be kept in mind that safety is paramount, and maximum attention should be paid to every action taken.