Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111376

Florence Reinisch, MPH¹, Marion Gillen, RN, MPH, PhD², Egils Kronlins, BA¹, and Robert Harrison, MD, MPH¹. (1) Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Health Services, 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1901, Oakland, CA 94612, 510-622-4397, freinisc@dhs.ca.gov, (2) Dept. of Community Health Systems, UCSF School of Nursing, Box 0608, San Francisco, CA 94143-0608

Background: Earlier studies of California's 1998 Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) standard indicate decreases in sharps-related injury rates following implementation of the standard. The first phase of data collection from CA hospitals show that the rate of injury per 100 licensed beds decreased from 14.20 (S.D.=13.56) in 1997 to 12.33 (S.D.=11.92) in 2001 (p<0.001). To understand recent injury rate trends, sharps injuries in California hospitals are being evaluated for 2002-2005.

Methods: Through a mailing to all CA acute care hospitals, we collected 2002-2003 sharps injury data and employment figures for all staff and high-risk occupational subgroups. The latest trends in the rate of sharps injuries will be compared with existing data from 1997-2001. Changing mechanisms of injury will be described and compared to 1997-2001 injury patterns. To evaluate compliance with mandated BBP standard requirements on record-keeping, safety device committee participation and evaluation, a 10% sample of hospital facilities completed a survey.

Results: The preliminary hospital participation rate for the 2002-2003 injury data is 72% (n=324). To date, 6964 injuries were reported for 2002 and 6870 injuries for 2003; resulting in a preliminary sharps injury rate per 100 licensed beds of 11.8 (S.D.=10.8) for 2002 and 11.6 (S.D.=10.1) for 2003.

Conclusion: The CA BBP standard was implemented in 1998 and it is practical to quantify the apparent reduction of sharps injuries. Using recently collected injury and survey data, the changing patterns of sharps injuries and key features of hospital implementation of the BBP Standard requirements will be presented.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to

• Understand the recent trends in sharps injuries in CA hospitals
• Identify changing sharps injury patters
• Understand key features of the CA BBP Standard, including device evaluation and record keeping requirements.

Keywords: Health Care Workers, Injuries

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.