Needlestick Injury Reduction

Lisa E. Woody, MD, MPHDebbie Janca, RN, COHN-S

Opportunity Statement

Injuries from needles used in healthcare and laboratory

settings may result in transmission of bloodborne

pathogens to healthcare workers. The goal of this project is to reduce the anxiety, expense and lost productivity associated with these injuries by reducing

needlesticks by 50%.

Most Likely Causes

Failure to use safety engineered needlesUnsafe work practices (recapping,

removal of phlebotomy tube holder)Failure to dispose properlyDisposal system failures (overfull

containers, needles sticking out of containers or piercing sides)

Solutions ImplementedExposure Prevention Committee

(EPC)established by the Infection Control Committee Representatives from clinical nursing units, Risk Management, Nursing Education,

Clinical Nutrition and Occupational Health Services

EPC representation on Clinical Products Committee

Introduction of safety-engineered needle devices and needleless procedures

BD Eclipse Hypodermic and PhleBotomy Needles

Results – Data Analysis

30% reduction in hollow bore needle injuries following introduction of safety-engineered hypodermic and phlebotomy needles in June 2003

Special cause variation identified after introduction and training complete

Occupational Health ServicesHollow Bore Needle Exposures

July 04Temporary: UCL=16.74, Mean=8.24, LCL=- 0.26 (not shown) (mR =2)

Jun-

99

Sept-9

9

Dec-9

9

Mar-

00

Jun-

00

Sept-0

0

Dec-0

0

Mar

c-01

Jun-

01

Sept-0

1

Dec-0

1

Mar-

02

Jun-0

2

Sept-0

2

Dec-0

2

Mar-

03

Jun-

03

Sept-0

3

Dec-0

3

Mar-

04

June

-04

July-

04

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

UCL

Mean

Occupational Health ServicesHollow Bore Needle Exposures

July 04Temporary: UCL=16.74, Mean=8.24, LCL=- 0.26 (not shown) (mR =2)

Jun-

99

Sept-9

9

Dec-9

9

Mar-

00

Jun-

00

Sept-0

0

Dec-0

0

Mar

c-01

Jun-

01

Sept-0

1

Dec-0

1

Mar-

02

Jun-0

2

Sept-0

2

Dec-0

2

Mar-

03

Jun-

03

Sept-0

3

Dec-0

3

Mar-

04

June

-04

July-

04

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

UCL

Mean

July 04Temporary: UCL=16.74, Mean=8.24, LCL = -0.26 (not shown)

Jun-

99

Sept-

99

Dec-

99

Mar- 00

Jun-

00

Sept-00

Dec-

00

Mar

c-01

Jun-

01

Sept-01

Dec-

01

Mar- 02

Jun-

02

Sept-02

Dec-02

Mar- 03

Jun-

03

Sept-

03

Dec-

03

Mar- 04

June

-04

July

04

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

UCL

Mean

Hollow Bore Needle Exposures

Recommendations for Further Study or Action

Review exposures resulting from unsafe work practices to determine root cause and implement safer procedures

Review disposal system for improvement opportunities

Review exposure data for previously implemented devices and replace devices associated with continuing injuries