Anaesthesia · 2006 · 17 citations · 9 references
Public HealthInjury PreventionOccupational Health NursingInfection PreventionOccupational HealthPatient SafetyOccupational MedicineOccupational SafetyOperating Room Patient SafetyOperating Room SafetySafe Work PracticesSafety CultureHealth Care Worker Exposure PreventionHealth Care Worker ProtectionHealthcare Worker SafetyInfection Control PrecautionsNeedle Stick Injury PreventionNeedlestick InjuriesNurse PractitionersPatient Safety In Healthcare Settings
Hospital staff are at risk from occupational exposure to blood-borne viruses due to needle stick injuries. Occupational health departments have invested considerable resources in the prevention of these injuries, which can be very distressing to the affected individuals. We surveyed health care workers, i.e. doctors, nurses and operating department practitioners, in the operating theatre and critical care units of two UK hospitals located in the Midlands and Merseyside to compare attitudes and experiences. There were significant deficiencies in several aspects of the safe practice of universal precautions. These deficiencies were similar in the two hospitals surveyed and may reflect a national trend. We conclude that every individual, department and trust needs to reflect on their practice and address these deficiencies.
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