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

Abstract #117280

Angela K. Laramie, MPH and Letitia K. Davis, ScD. Occupational Health Surveillance Program, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108, 617-624-5641, angela.laramie@state.ma.us

Healthcare worker exposures to bloodborne pathogens due to percutaneous injuries with contaminated needles and other sharps devices are a significant public health concern. In Massachusetts, almost 10 hospital workers sustained sharps injuries each day in the three year period of 2001 – 2003. Information about the occupations, procedures and devices associated with sharps injuries and the circumstances in which these injuries occur is necessary to develop and evaluate prevention measures. Massachusetts has been collecting such data since 2001, with 100% of all chronic and acute hospitals reporting data each year. The Massachusetts Sharps Injury Surveillance System is intended to provide information regarding the magnitude of the problem in the state, to identify devices, procedures, departments most frequently associated with sharps injuries, as well as facilitate sharing of best practices among healthcare facilities. Findings based on sharps injury data provided by hospitals for the last quarter of 2001 through 2003 will be presented. Findings by occupation, clinical practice area, procedure performed and device involved will be described, with notable trends highlighted. Examples of how surveillance data have led to change within the hospital setting will be shared.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees will
• be able to describe the distribution of incidents by occupation, department, and device types for sharps injuries in Massachusetts hospitals and
• identify measures to prevent sharps injuries in the hospital setting.

Keywords: Health Care Workers, Surveillance

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.

Recorded presentation