Multicenter research for needlestick injury at healthcare workers

Introduction
Based on multicenter research among tertiary hospitals in Korea, we intend to contribute effective needlestick injury prevention by understanding current state of incidence rate of needlestick injury and related epidemiology according to medical institution and workers characteristics.

Methods
We selected 10 hospitals and performed this research from July 2007 to September 2007. With the developed website, We collected cases by infection-controlling center of the hospital. We used partly modified self-writing questionnaire based on Exposure Prevention Information Network(EPINet) that is used in needlestick injury monitoring system in many nations including United States of America.

Results
During the period, a total of 327 cases of needlestick injury were reported and the incidence of needlestick injury was 10.56 cases per 100 patient beds a year. Among them, when needlestick injuries were happened, cases that whether serum of patient related needlestick injury was positive or not was not known were one-third. The epidemiologic characteristics of needlestick injury were similar to previous reports in Korea.

Discussion
There was no difference in incidence according to the number of beds. Cases were simply the most in nurse-group but the incidence rate per healthcare worker was the highest in intern-group. Like this, the research which finds risk of incidence rate according to risk-group is important. As a result of this research, we suggest that protective policy about needlestick injury should be needed, regardless of the number of beds, kinds of job and potential cause of infection.