scholarly journals The Prevalence and Underreporting of Needlestick Injuries among Dental Healthcare Workers in Pakistan: A Systematic Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehak Pervaiz ◽  
Ruth Gilbert ◽  
Nasreen Ali
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Review Literature ◽  
Needlestick Injuries ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Reporting Rates ◽  
Actual Prevalence

Needlestick injuries (NSIs) are a major occupational health problem among dental healthcare workers (HCWs) in Pakistan, which places them at a significant risk of acquiring blood-borne infections. However, not all NSIs are reported, leading to an underestimation of the actual prevalence. The harmful impacts of NSIs on the healthcare delivery necessitate an urgent need to measure its actual prevalence.Objectives. The aim of this study was to review literature to estimate the prevalence and reporting rates of NSIs among dental-HCWs in Pakistan.Methods. 713 potentially relevant citations were identified by electronic databases and hand searching of articles. Nine primary studies were subsequently identified to be included in the review.Results. The results of the included studies indicate that the prevalence of NSIs among Pakistani dental-HCWs was between 30% and 73%. The rate of reporting of NSIs was between 15% and 76%, and the most common reason was found to be the lack of awareness regarding the reporting system, or of the need to report NSIs.Conclusion. It is evident from the review of the included studies that there is a significantly high prevalence and a low rate of reporting of NSIs among dental-HCWs in Pakistan, suggesting the need to setup an occupational health department in dental settings, for preventing, managing, recording, and monitoring NSIs.

scholarly journals Workplace Violence in Healthcare: A Single-Center Study on Causes, Consequences and Prevention Strategies

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Helena Sofia Antão ◽  
Ema Sacadura-Leite ◽  
Maria João Manzano ◽  
Sónia Pinote ◽  
Rui Relvas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Public Hospital ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Single Center ◽  
Notification Rate ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Significance Level

Introduction: Workplace violence is one of the main risk factors in the professional world. Healthcare workers are at higher risk when compared to other sectors. Our study aimed to characterize physical and verbal violence in a public hospital and to define occupational health prevention and surveillance strategies.Material and Methods: Single center observational cross-sectional study, carried amongst healthcare workers in a public hospital in Lisbon. A qualitative survey was carried out through six in-depth interviews. A quantitative survey was carried through questionnaires delivered to 32 workers. A significance level of 5% was accepted in the assessment of statistical differences. The Mann-Whitney test and the Fisher’s exact test were used to calculate p values.Results: The main results are: (1) 41 violence incidents were reported in the quantitative phase; (2) 5/21 [23.81%] victims notified the incident to the occupational health department; (3) 18/21 [85.71%] victims reported a permanent state of hypervigilance; (4) 22/28 [78.57%] participants self-reported poor or no familiarity with internal reporting procedures; (5) 24/28 [85.71%] participants believed it is possible to minimize workplace violence.Discussion: Workplace violence is favored by unrestricted access to working areas, absence of security guards and police officers or scarce intervention. The low notification rate contributes to organizational lack of action. The state of hypervigilance reported in our study reflects the negative effects of threatening occupational stressors on mental health.Conclusion: Our results show that workplace violence is a relevant risk factor that significantly impacts workers’ health in a noxious manner, deserving a tailored occupational health approach whose priority areas and strategies have been determined.

Utility of Dual Skin Tests to Evaluate Tuberculin Skin Test Reactions of 10 to 14 mm in Healthcare Workers

2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (11) ◽  
pp. 821-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan J. Marsh ◽  
Joshua San Vicente ◽  
C. Fordham von Reyn
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Skin Test ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Skin Testing ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Health Department ◽  
The United States ◽  
Skin Tests

AbstractObjective:To define the utility of 10- to 14-mm reactions to a Mycobacterium tuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test for healthcare workers (HCWs).Design:Blinded dual skin testing, using PPD and M. avium sensitin, of HCWs at a single medical center who had a 10-to 14-mm reaction to PPD when tested by personnel from the Occupational Health Department as part of routine annual screening.Setting:A single tertiary-care academic medical center.Participants:Employees of the medical center who underwent routine annual PPD screening and were identified by the Occupational Health Department as having a reaction of 10 to 14 mm to PPD.Results:Nineteen employees were identified as candidates and 11 underwent dual skin testing. Only 4 (36%) had repeat results for PPD in the 10- to 14-mm range, whether read by Occupational Health Department personnel or study investigators. For only 5 (45%) of the subjects did the Occupational Health Department personnel and study investigators concur (± 3 mm) on the size of the PPD reaction. Two of the 4 subjects with reactions of 10 to 14 mm as measured by the study investigators were M. avium sensitin dominant, 1 was PPD dominant, and 1 was nondominant.Conclusion:A reaction of 10 to 14 mm to PPD should not be used as an indication for the treatment of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection in healthy HCWs born in the United States with no known exposure to TB.

scholarly journals Epidemiology and risk factors of needlestick injuries among healthcare workers in Iran: a systematic reviews and meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soheil Hassanipour ◽  
Mojtaba Sepandi ◽  
Reza Tavakkol ◽  
Mousa Jabbari ◽  
Hadiseh Rabiei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Female Gender ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Needlestick Injuries ◽  
Factors Affecting

Abstract Background Occupational contact with blood and body fluids poses a significant risk to healthcare workers. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the epidemiology and risk factors affecting needlestick injuries (NSI) in healthcare personnel in Iran. Methods In March 2020, researchers studied six international databases such as Medline/PubMed, ProQuest, ISI/WOS, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar for English papers and two Iranian databases (MagIran and SID) for Persian papers. Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist was used to assess quality of studies. The method of reporting was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Results A total of 43 articles were included in the analysis. Results showed that females (OR = 1.30, 95 % CI 1.06–1.58, P value = 0.009), younger age (OR = 2.75, 95 % CI 2.27–3.33, P value < 0.001, rotated shift workers (OR = 2.16, 95 % CI 1.47–3.15, P value < 0.001), not attending training courses (OR = 1.30, 95 % CI 1.07–1.56, P value = 0.006), working in the surgery ward (OR = 1.83, 95 % CI 1.33–2.50, P value < 0.001), less work experience (OR = 1.43, 95 % CI 1.04–1.95, P value = 0.025) apposed a greater risk factors for NSI among healthcare workers. Conclusion Based on the results of this review, factors such as young age, less work experience, work shift, and female gender are considered as strong risk factors for NSI injury in Iran. Preventive measures including education programs can reduce the burden of NSI among healthcare personnel.

scholarly journals The COVID-19 Impact in Hospital Healthcare Workers: Development of an Occupational Health Risk Management Program

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Luís Mendonça-Galaio ◽  
Ema Sacadura-Leite ◽  
João Raposo ◽  
Diana França ◽  
Ana Correia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Source Of Infection ◽  
Risk Management Program ◽  
Lower Infection ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health Risk Management ◽  
Epidemiological Link

As with the SARS-CoV-1 outbreak in 2003–2004 and the MERS outbreak in 2012, there were early reports of frequent transmission to healthcare workers (HCW) in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Our hospital center identified its first COVID-19 confirmed case on March 9, 2020, in a 6-day hospitalized patient. The first confirmed COVID-19 case in a HCW happened 3 days later, in a nurse with a probable epidemiological link related to the first confirmed patient. Our study’s first objective is to describe and characterize the impact of the first 3 months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte (CHULN). Our second objective is to report the performance of the CHULN Occupational Health Department (OHD) and the impact of the pandemic on CHULN HCW and its adaptation across national, regional, and institutional epidemiological evolution. Over the first 3 months, 2,152 HCW were screened (which represent 29.8% of the total HCW population), grouped in 100 separate identifiable clusters, each one ranging from 2 to 98 HCW. The most prevalent profession screened were nurses (<i>n</i> = 800; 37.2%) followed by doctors (<i>n</i> = 634; 29.5%). The main source of potential infection and cluster generating screening procedures was co-worker related (<i>n</i> = 1,216; 56.5%). A patient source or a combined patient co-worker source was only accountable for 559 (26%) and 43 (2%) of cases, respectively. Our preliminary results demonstrate a lower infection rate among HCW than the ones commonly found in the literature. The main source of infection seemed to be co-worker related rather than patient related. New preventive strategies would have to be implemented in order to control SARS-CoV-2 spread.

Estimated Cost of Needlestick Injuries for Six Major Needled Devices

1990 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 584-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine Jagger ◽  
Ella H. Hunt ◽  
Richard D. Pearson
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Narrow Range ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Employee Health ◽  
Needlestick Injury ◽  
Needlestick Injuries ◽  
Cost Of Treatment ◽  
Needle Stick Injuries ◽  
The Cost

AbstractA major factor in the introduction of new products designed to decrease the risk of needlesticks to healthcare workers (HCWs) is whether the increased expense of a safer device is offset by the savings of preventing needlesticks. The itemized costs of needle-stick injuries associated with six major needled devices were estimated and compared to the cost of the devices causing the injuries, based on 1988 dollars. Included was the cost of treatment, prophylaxis and employee health department personnel time. The average cost of needlestick injury was $405, with a narrow range of $390 to $456 for different devices. As a percent of the cost of the devices, needlesticks cost as little as 10% of the cost of the device, for the intravenous (IV) catheter, to as much as 457%, for needles used to connect IV lines. On the average, needlesticks cost 36% of the devices’ cost. These data may be used to weigh the potential economic benefits of safer needle technology or other strategies intended to reduce the incidence of needlesticks.

Knowledge, awareness and perceptions of diabetes mellitus among the Saudi population

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 413-422
Author(s):  
Muhammad H Mujammami ◽  
Abdulaziz A Alodhayani ◽  
Mohammad Ibrahim AlJabri ◽  
Ahmad Alhumaidi Alanazi ◽  
Sultan Sayyaf Alanazi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Saudi Population ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Background: High prevalence of undiagnosed cases of diabetes mellitus (DM) has increased over the last two decades, most patients with DM only become aware of their condition once they develop a complication. Limited data are available regarding the knowledge and awareness about DM and the associated risk factors, complications and management in Saudi society. Aim: This study aimed to assess knowledge of DM in general Saudi society and among Saudi healthcare workers. Results: Only 37.3% of the participants were aware of the current DM prevalence. Obesity was the most frequently identified risk factor for DM. Most comparisons indicated better awareness among health workers. Conclusion: A significant lack of knowledge about DM in Saudi society was identified. Social media and educational curriculum can improve knowledge and awareness of DM.

‘Stat’ workflow modifications to expedite care after needlestick injuries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J L Smith ◽  
R Banerjee ◽  
D R Linkin ◽  
E P Schwab ◽  
P Saberi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Health ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Post Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Psychological Consequences ◽  
Intervention Period ◽  
Needlestick Injuries ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Physical And Psychological Health ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Abstract Background Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is recommended to start within hours of needlestick injuries (NSIs) among healthcare workers (HCWs). Delays associated with awaiting the results of testing from the source patient (whose blood was involved in the NSI) can lead to psychological consequences for the exposed HCW as well as symptomatic toxicities from empiric PEP. Aims After developing a ‘stat’ (immediate) workflow that prioritized phlebotomy and resulting of source patient bloodwork for immediate handling and processing, we retrospectively investigated whether our new workflow had (i) decreased HIV order-result interval times for source patient HIV bloodwork and (ii) decreased the frequency of HIV PEP prescriptions being dispensed to exposed HCWs. Methods We retrospectively analysed NSI records to identify source patient HIV order-result intervals and PEP dispensing frequencies across a 6-year period (encompassing a 54-month pre-intervention period and 16-month post-intervention period). Results We identified 251 NSIs, which occurred at similar frequencies before versus after our intervention (means 3.54 NSIs and 3.75 NSIs per month, respectively). Median HIV order-result intervals decreased significantly (P &lt; 0.05) from 195 to 156 min after our intervention, while the proportion of HCWs who received one or more doses of PEP decreased significantly (P &lt; 0.001) from 50% (96/191) to 23% (14/60). Conclusion Using a ‘stat’ workflow to prioritize source patient testing after NSIs, we achieved a modest decrease in order-result intervals and a dramatic decrease in HIV PEP dispensing rates. This simple intervention may improve HCWs’ physical and psychological health during a traumatic time.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e043584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph E Ebinger ◽  
Gregory J Botwin ◽  
Christine M Albert ◽  
Mona Alotaibi ◽  
Moshe Arditi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Delivery System ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Los Angeles County ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Delivery System ◽  
Hispanic Ethnicity ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
African American Race

ObjectiveWe sought to determine the extent of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and the factors associated with seroprevalence across a diverse cohort of healthcare workers.DesignObservational cohort study of healthcare workers, including SARS-CoV-2 serology testing and participant questionnaires.SettingsA multisite healthcare delivery system located in Los Angeles County.ParticipantsA diverse and unselected population of adults (n=6062) employed in a multisite healthcare delivery system located in Los Angeles County, including individuals with direct patient contact and others with non-patient-oriented work functions.Main outcomesUsing Bayesian and multivariate analyses, we estimated seroprevalence and factors associated with seropositivity and antibody levels, including pre-existing demographic and clinical characteristics; potential COVID-19 illness-related exposures; and symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection.ResultsWe observed a seroprevalence rate of 4.1%, with anosmia as the most prominently associated self-reported symptom (OR 11.04, p<0.001) in addition to fever (OR 2.02, p=0.002) and myalgias (OR 1.65, p=0.035). After adjusting for potential confounders, seroprevalence was also associated with Hispanic ethnicity (OR 1.98, p=0.001) and African-American race (OR 2.02, p=0.027) as well as contact with a COVID-19-diagnosed individual in the household (OR 5.73, p<0.001) or clinical work setting (OR 1.76, p=0.002). Importantly, African-American race and Hispanic ethnicity were associated with antibody positivity even after adjusting for personal COVID-19 diagnosis status, suggesting the contribution of unmeasured structural or societal factors.Conclusion and relevanceThe demographic factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among our healthcare workers underscore the importance of exposure sources beyond the workplace. The size and diversity of our study population, combined with robust survey and modelling techniques, provide a vibrant picture of the demographic factors, exposures and symptoms that can identify individuals with susceptibility as well as potential to mount an immune response to COVID-19.

scholarly journals Burnout of Healthcare Workers amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Japanese Cross-Sectional Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2434
Author(s):  
Yoshito Nishimura ◽  
Tomoko Miyoshi ◽  
Hideharu Hagiya ◽  
Yoshinori Kosaki ◽  
Fumio Otsuka
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
General Medicine ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Past

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic has drastically changed how we live and work. Amid the prolonged pandemic, burnout of the frontline healthcare professionals has become a significant concern. We conducted a cross-sectional survey study to provide data about the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the prevalence of burnout in healthcare professionals in Japan. Healthcare workers in a single Japanese national university hospital participated in the survey, including basic demographics, whether a participant engaged in care of COVID-19 patients in the past 2 weeks and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Of those, 25.4% fully answered the survey; 33.3% were doctors and 63.6% were nurses, and 36.3% engaged in care of COVID-19 patients in the past 2 weeks. Compared to those belonging to General Medicine, those in Emergency Intensive Care Unit were at higher risk of burnout (odds ratio (OR), 6.7; 95% CI, 1.1–42.1; p = 0.031). Of those who engaged in care of COVID-19 patients, 50% reported burnout while 6.1% did not (OR 8.5, 95% CI; 1.3–54.1; p = 0.014). The burnout of healthcare workers is a significant concern amid the pandemic, which needs to be addressed for sustainable healthcare delivery.

scholarly journals Occupational health risk among healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: actions to limit the risk

2021 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eman Casper
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
World Health ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Wuhan City ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Respiratory Droplets ◽  
Very High

AbstractThe World Health Organization declared coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic in March 2020. The infection with coronavirus started in Wuhan city, China, in December 2019. As of October 2020, the disease was reported in 235 countries. The coronavirus infection 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease with high morbidity and mortality. As of February 2021, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally is 102,942,987 and 2,232,233 deaths according to WHO report. This infection is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is a ribonucleic acid (RNA) β-coronavirus. The infection is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets.Healthcare workers (HCWs) play an essential role at the front lines, providing care for patients infected with this highly transmittable disease. They are exposed to very high occupational health risk as they frequently contact the infective persons. In order to limit the number of infected cases and deaths among healthcare workers, it is crucial to have better awareness, optimistic attitude, efficient PPE, and adequate health practices about COVID-19.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document