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Five years of data on percutaneous
injuries (PIs) from the EPINet multi-hospital
sharps injury database at the University of
Virginia were analyzed to understand exposure risks
faced by personnel in intensive care/critical care
settings. Of 687 PIs in intensive care units
(ICUs), nurses had the highest proportion of
injuries (61 %) followed by physicians (16 %) and
respiratory therapists (8 %).
There was a higher ratio of injuries from
hollow-bore, blood-filled needles (those with the
highest risk of bloodborne pathogen transmission)
compared to other settings: 42 % for ICUs, compared
to 25 % for all other hospital settings. Needles
causing injuries included disposable syringes (33
%), butterfly needles (11 %), IV catheter needles
(9 %), suture needles (9 %), and arterial blood gas
(ABG) syringes (5 %).
The data revealed significant
opportunities for reducing exposure risks in ICUs.
Recommendations include using safety-engineered
phlebotomy and butterfly needles, not syringes, for
drawing venous blood, and using safety-engineered
ABG syringes for arterial blood draws. For radial
ABGs, use of a local anesthetic should be
considered to minimize patient movement and reduce
needlestick risk.
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J. Perry
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J. Jagger
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