Reducing needlestick injuries starts with knowing the risks, conducting ongoing training and selecting products engineered for safety with OSHA-recommended controls. The CDC estimates up to 75% of sharps injuries can be prevented simply by choosing safer medical devices.
injuries to healthcare personnel according to the C.D.C. [1]
more needle sticks since 2001 (1.9 -2.5 per 100 FTEs) [3]
pathogens link to incidents on the job including HIV, HBV and HCV. [3]
mean expense to manage a needle stick event [5*]
estimated cost of preventable care for healthcare workers in 2015 [5-7†]
reduction in event where safety engineered devices such as SimpleCAP were introduced [8]
reduction in event where safety engineered devices such as SimpleCAP were introduced with supplemental training and maintenance programs. [8]
1. OSHA. Bloodborne pathogens and needlestick prevention: Evaluating and controlling exposure. https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/evaluation.html. Accessed August 12, 2020
2. Centers for Disease Control. Workbook for Designing, Implementing and Evaluating a Sharps Injury Prevention Program. https://www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety/pdf/sharpsworkbook_2008.pdf. Published 2008. Accessed October 13, 2020.
3. Tarantola A, Abiteboul D, Rachline A. Infection risks following accidental exposure to blood or body fluids in health care workers: a review of pathogens transmitted in published cases. Am J Infect Control. 2006;34(6):367-375
doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2004.11.011
4. Grimmond T, Good L. EXPO-S.T.O.P. 2016 and 2017 blood exposure surveys: An alarming rise. Am J Infect Control. 2019;47(12):1465-1470 doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2019.07.004
5. O’Malley EM, Scott RD, 2nd, Gayle J, et al. Costs of management of occupational exposures to blood and body fluids. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2007;28(7):774-782 doi:10.1086/518729
6. Heinrich J. Occupational Safety: Selected Cost and Benefit Implications of Needlestick Prevention Devices for Hospitals. Washington, DC2000. GAO-01-60R Needlestick Prevention.
7. Grimmond T, Good L. Exposure Survey of Trends in Occupational Practice (EXPO-S.T.O.P.) 2015: A national survey of sharps injuries and mucocutaneous blood exposures among health care workers in US hospitals. American Journal of Infection Control. 2017;45(11):1218-1223 doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2017.05.023
8. Tarigan LH, Cifuentes M, Quinn M, Kriebel D. Prevention of needle-stick injuries in healthcare facilities: a meta-analysis. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2015;36(7):823-829 doi:10.1017/ice.2015.50
9. Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA]. 1992. Bloodborne pathogens. Regulations (Standards-29 CFR 1910.1030). Retrieved from: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.1030
* Adjusted to 2019 dollars based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Medical Care Consumer Price Index data.
† Based on 300,000 NSIs in 2015, 75% preventable injuries6, and average treatment cost of $20554*
