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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Florence Reinisch, MPH¹, Marion Gillen, PhD², Robert Harrison, MD¹, and Egils Kronlins, BA¹. (1) Occupational Health Branch, California Department of Health Services, 850 Marina Bay Parkway, Building P, 3rd floor, Richmond, CA 94804, 510-620-5771, freinisc@dhs.ca.gov, (2) School of Nursing, UC San Francisco, Box 0608, San Francisco, CA 94143

Background: Earlier studies of California's 1998 Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) standard indicate decreases in sharps-related injury rates among California hospitals from 1997-2001. Phase I data show that the rate of injury per 100 staffed beds decreased from 17.0 in 1997 to 13.9 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 2002-2005 sharps injury data and employment figures for all staff and high-risk occupational subgroups. Recent 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 BBP standard requirements on record-keeping, safety device committee participation and evaluation, a 10% sample of hospital facilities completed a survey. Results: The hospital participation rate for the 2002-2004 injury data is 82% (n=355). 8036 injuries were reported for 2002, 8369 injuries for 2003 and 7174 injuries in 2004; resulting in sharps injury rate per 100 staffed beds of 13.2 (2002), 12.6 (2003), and 13.1 (2004). Conclusion: The CA BBP standard was implemented in 1998 and it is important to quantify the progress in reducing sharps injuries. Clear decreases in the rate in sharps injury among hospital workers from 1997-2001 have evolved into smaller reductions or perhaps a plateau in the injury rates from 2002-2004. The changing rates and patterns of sharps injuries will be presented to help define injury reduction strategies.

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

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

Keywords: Health Care Workers, Injury Control

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered