Risk Factors for Sharps Injuries Among Nursing Students

A new study reveals that nursing students are exposed to the serious risk of contracting blood-borne diseases from needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs).

Researchers at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong) conducted a cross-sectional survey among a total of 878 nursing students (response rate, 76.61%). The results showed that NSIs and sharps injuries (SIs) were significantly increased by year of study in both the study period and 12-month prevalence. The researchers found that four predictors for NSIs/SIs were final-year study, perception of not receiving prevention training, perception of not using a kidney dish to contain used needles and sharps, and perception of not immediately discarding used needles and syringes into a sharps box.

The researchers found that the majority of the injuries were from contaminated needles. Procedures involved included giving an injection, collecting a urine specimen, removal of a urinary catheter, and checking blood glucose using a glucometer. Specific activities identified with SIs were opening the needle cap, opening ampoules, inserting the needle, and mixing dirty and clean materials in one kidney dish. The study was published in the May 2012 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.

“Preclinical training, reinforcement of kidney dish use, immediate discarding of used needles, and adequate clinical supervision are essential elements in reducing the risk of NSIs and SIs,” concluded lead author assistant Prof. Kin Cheung, PhD, RN.

NSIs, sometimes called a percutaneous injury, hold a potential for transmission of infection, if the sharp is contaminated with blood or other body fluid that hold potential blood-borne viruses (BBV) and pathogens. Although rare, injuries from sharps contaminated with an infected patient’s blood can transmit more than 20 diseases, including Hepatitis B, C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

To reduce transmission risk, if injured by a sharp, which may be contaminated, the wound should be allowed to bleed gently, ideally holding it under running water. The wound should then be washed using running water and plenty of soap, but should not be scrubbed. The wound should then be dried and covered with a waterproof plaster or dressing. Once treated, the NSI should be reported and urgent medical advice should be sought out to receive effective prophylaxis and treatment by antibiotics or other means.


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Hong Kong Polytechnic University