Reducing the risk of needlestick injuries in hospital.

ABSTRACT: After performing procedures involving sharps, many wards in St George's Hospital have no quick and accessible 'point of care' sharps bin for their safe disposal. Instead one must transport potentially hazardous equipment away from the bedside, risking injury and exposure to persons en route. Results from a questionnaire showed that 73% felt they were indeed poorly placed, 95% felt a portable sharps bin system was a good idea, and 95% felt their introduction would be safer. A one month trial of portable sharps bins on the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) showed that 97% felt that the portable sharps bin system reduced risk to themselves and others, 81% felt safer using them, and 90% felt safer knowing their colleagues were using them too. A recent audit in a six month period within 2012 established

SUBMITTER: Denny J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4663838 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature