http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/505649
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Needlestick Injury in Acute Care Nurses Caring for Patients with
Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Study

*Jennifer M. Lee, Marc F. Botteman, Lars Nicklasson, David Cobden Chris
L. Pashos *Curr Med Res Opin. 2005; 21 (5): 741-747. ©2005 Librapharm
Limited


Abstract and Introduction


Abstract

*Objective:* To quantify the incidence and assess the risk of
needlestick injury (NI) in nurses caring for patients with diabetes
mellitus.
*Methods:* A total of 400 nurses caring for patients with diabetes in
381 different hospitals throughout the United States over a period of at
least 1 year voluntarily completed an Internet-based data collection
instrument. The nurses self-reported comprehensive data on their
experience with NI, focusing on those occurring within the past year. If
respondents experienced multiple NI during this period, detailed data
were collected on the most recent event.
*Results:* Of the 400 nurses, 313 (78.3%) reported experiencing at least
one NI, 110 (27.5%) reported at least one NI within the last 12 months,
and 44 (40% of 110) reported multiple NI. Nearly two-thirds of these
injuries ( /n/ = 73/110; 66.4%) were punctures that drew blood,
resulting in one case of contracted hepatitis C. The cumulative annual
incidence of NI events was 448 NI per 1000 nurses. Nurses reported the
injury in adherence with existing regulations and policies in only 21.8%
of the cases. Disposable syringes were involved in 88 (80%) of the NI
events. In half of the injuries ( /n/ = 55), the needled device was
equipped with a safety feature that was ineffective, primarily because
it was not fully activated ( /n/ = 47/55; 85.5%) or it malfunctioned (
/n/ = 2-5; 3.6-9.1%). NI most commonly occurred while nurses were
injecting insulin ( /n/ = 33; 30%). In the 2 weeks following their NI,
60.1% of nurses noted that they were more afraid of needled devices than
before the injury and 41.8% felt anxious, depressed, or stressed. As a
direct result of the NI, nurses missed 77 days of work.
*Conclusions:* This study is the first to show the relatively high risk
both of NI and of NI that draws blood among nurses injecting insulin
with a disposable syringe and confirms previous incidence estimates of
NI among nurses. Additionally, this study reveals significant post-NI
emotional distress, suggests significant under-reporting of NI to
hospital officials, and demonstrates the need for a more effective
needle safety device.