Reducing percutaneous injuries at an academic health center: A 5-year review

Background The University of Connecticut Health Center Employee Health Service collected and used National Surveillance System for Hospital Health Care Workers (NaSH) data to (1) improve surveillance of health care worker blood and body fluid exposures (BBFEs) and (2) target specific interventions for higher-risk groups (nursing staff, medical and dental students, and residents). Methods All 870 BBFE incidents were abstracted from the NaSH database from the 1997 through 2002 academic years. Incidence rates per 100 full-time-equivalent workers were determined for each targeted occupation group with 95% confidence intervals. Results The number of percutaneous injuries declined among medical/dental students and nursing staff, and to a lesser degree for residents. The incidence rates decreased from 7.9% in 2000 to 2001 to 2.6% in 2001 to 2002 for students and from 9.2% in 1997 to 1998 to 2.7% in 2001 to 2002 for nursing staff. Conclusions Data from a surveillance database provided guidance for administrative, educational, and engineering control interventions. Active surveillance and periodic review of interventions are important aspects to reduce BBFEs in targeted high-risk occupational groups, especially when the workforce has a high turnover, as is typical in academic health centers.