Abstract
Staff working in healthcare settings face risk from bloodborne viruses through occupational injuries. Nurses and healthcare assistants (HCAs) represent the biggest group of healthcare workers reporting exposure to bloodborne viruses, with more than half of injuries among this group between 2004 and 2013 involving a needlestick injury. Action is needed to reduce these risks, such as the procurement and use of safety-engineered devices and the provision of safe working conditions. Raising awareness of needlestick injuries among all healthcare staff may also help.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 12-14 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Volume | 111 |
| No. | 8 |
| Specialist publication | Nursing times |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Feb 2015 |
Keywords
- Bloodborne viruses
- Infection prevention
- Occupational injury
- Sharps