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KMID : 1101220030350010074
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2003 Volume.35 No. 1 p.74 ~ p.79
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Study on Needlestick Injuries of Medical Technologists
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Shim Moon-Jeong
Kim Kag-Hyun
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Abstract
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Health care workers are frequently exposed to the danger of infectious agents from needlestick and sharps injuries. Needlestick injuries occur very frequently and commonly so there is a tendency that both hospital and its employees take it lightly, compared to other sorts of injury in the medical field. The purpose of this study is to discuss needlestick injuries which are a major channel of potential vocational infections for medical technologists MTs. We examined the frequency of needlestick injuries that occurred in clinical laboratories, their management, and the possible risk factors. We conducted surveys on needlestick injuries on 243 MTs from the 39 hospitals. The data was analyzed by the SPSSWIN program. According to the results of the study, 90.9% of the MTs have experienced needlestick injuries. The most common frequency of being injured was 1 or 2 times(46.2%), followed by 3 or 4 times(27.3%). 53.4% of MTs surveyed have received moderate injuries and 45.8% received needlestick injuries while withdrawing needles or disassembling devices. 24.8% were injured while recapping used needles. The most common reason of needlestick injuries occurring was carelessness(72.3%). 95.4% of the medical technicians had their injuries disinfected and 20.3% of the MTs checked medical records of the patients who used the same needle before their injury. Only 3.6% of injured MTs consulted doctors and 3.2% were prescribed medicine or treatment. According to the needle disposal system, 99.6% of the MTs collected waste separately. 52.5% dispose of needles after recapping. 64.3% use a plastic can for separate collection. Use of safer devices and continuing education programs for needlestick injuries are needed in order to reduce the occupational risk of infection.
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KEYWORD
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Needlestick injury, Safety, Nosocomial infection
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FullTexts / Linksout information
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Listed journal information
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