Abstract

PEINADO RODRIGUEZ, Jesús; LLANOS CUENTAS, Alejandro  and  SEAS, Carlos. Injuries with sharp objects in the health personal at the Hospital Nacional Cayetano Heredia. Rev Med Hered [online]. 2000, vol.11, n.2, pp.48-53. ISSN 1018-130X.

Objective: To determine the incidence rate and epidemiological features of sharp injuies (SI) in a University Hospital. Material and methods: During 2 weeks of february 1998 a cohort of health workers (HW) was evaluated in four random selected times. In each evaluation, HW filled-in two questionnaires designed to collect demographic data, practices of risk for SI, and specific information of SI. Results: A total of 901 observations were made, mean age (SD) of the cohort was 32.9 ± 8.8 years old. The crude incidence rate (IR) per 1000 was 36.6. Majority of SI ocurred in nomedical personnel (58%), were caused by needles (77%), ocurred near the bedside (53%), and during the first 4 hours of working (58%). HW used gloves in 41% of situations were a SI ocurred, but the size of the glove was not adecuate in 62% of them. The highest IR (per 1000) were observed among those working at the laundry service (90.9) and among dentist (90.9). Risk groups for SI identified were: age less than 20 years (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.04-1.7), female sex (OR 3.16 95% CI 1.4-7), working at the odontology service (OR: 4.5 95% CI 1.2-8.8) and was laundry (OR: 4.6 95% CI 3.1-9.9). Data from this setting will require a combination of proper training of identified target populations, and adequacy of resources. ( Rev Med Hered 2000; 11:48-53).

Keywords : Sharp injuries; Health workers; Incidence rate injuries.

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