Grimmond T FASM, BAgrSC, GrDpAdEd
Bylund S RN, CM, CPDM
Anglea C RN, BSN, CIC
Beeke L CWCP
Callahan A RN, MSN
Christiansen E
et al
Abstract
Sharps injury reduction using a sharps container with enhanced engineering: A 28 hospital nonrandomized intervention and cohort study
Presented at the 36th APIC Annual Educational Conference and International Meeting, June 7-11, 2009, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Presentation Number: 15-178).
Terry Grimmond, FASM, BAgrSc, GdDipAdEd, Suzann Bylund, RN, CM, CPDM, Candace Anglea, RN, BSN, CIC Lou Beeke, CWCP, Angela Callahan, RN, MSN, Erik Christiansen, Kelly Flewelling, CWCP, Kathleen McIntosh, RN, Kay Richter, RN, CIC, Monica Vitale, RN, CNOR
Background
The decrease in reported sharps injuries (SI) in the United States has markedly slowed. Additional devices and strategies need investigation. Sharps containers are associated with SI, and more than 90% of these injuries are related to container design. This study addresses the hypothesis that containers with enhanced engineering can reduce SI.
Methods
In a before/after intervention study from 2006 to 2008, we examined the impact of conversion to a sharps container with enhanced engineering (the Device) on SI categories in 14 Ascension Health hospitals (study group). The Device’s safety features included large horizontal aperture, sensitive counterbalanced door, large atrium, and passive overfill prevention. Study group results were also compared with a control cohort of 14 contemporaneous size-matched, Ascension Health hospitals (control group).
Results
The Device was associated with significant reductions in after-procedure (−30%), disposal-related (−57%), and container-associated (−81%) SI in the study group. No significant reductions occurred in container-associated sharps injuries in the control group. Hospitals using the Device had significantly fewer total SI than control hospitals.
Conclusion
Enhanced aperture design can significantly reduce container-associated sharps injuries. Other factors contributing to reduced injuries may include 1-hand deposit, safe closure, hand restriction, and preassembly. These results, from a country where sharps safety devices are widespread, are particularly applicable to countries where safety devices are not extensively used.
Key Words:
Sharps injury, needlestick injury, sharps container, sharps injury reduction, safety devices, engineered controls
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