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Study finds many surgical residents don't report needlesticks

Infection Control Monitor, July 6, 2007

While surgeons in training are at a high risk for needlestick injuries, many fail to report the injuries risking their health and that of their families and patients to the threat of bloodborne diseases, according to a new survey.

By their final year of training, 99% of surgical residents surveyed had had a needlestick injury, with 53% involving a high-risk patient. But 51% of injuries were not reported to an employee health service, according to the survey published in the June 28 New England Journal of Medicine.

Reporting such injuries is a critical step in initiating early prophylaxis or treatment, said researchers, who surveyed 699 surgeons in training at 17 medical centers. The surgeons said lack of time was the number one reason for not reporting needlesticks. Surgeons said the chief reason for needlestick injuries was being rushed. Researchers concluded that improved prevention and reporting strategies are needed to increase safety.

There was also a false belief by many that getting timely medical attention would not prevent infection. In fact, immediate treatment with antiviral drugs can prevent infection from needlesticks that occur in caring for patients with the viruses that cause AIDS and hepatitis B, as well as preventing chronic infection with hepatitis C.

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