Assessing needle-stick injury risks
Abstract:
Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to needle stick injuries (NSIs), putting them at risk of contracting diseases such as Hepatitis B (HB) and AIDS. This study aims to identify and assess the risk of injuries caused by needles and sharps among healthcare personnel in a tertiary care hospital in Pune, by application of healthcare failure mode and effect analysis (HFMEA) tool.
Aim and objectives: The study aims to assessing NSI risks in healthcare environments using the HFMEA tool.
Objectives: To identify the determinants of NSI using HFMEA as tool.To suggest necessary recommendations based on risk severity of failure modes.
Methods: The study utilizes retrospective data from the incidence reports of the hospital. A total of 25 incidence reported were included in the study during the period January 2022-March 2023. The collected data from incidence reports were analyzed using the HFMEA tool was used to identify failure modes for NSIs and assess risk priority numbers (RPNs) and understand severity.
Findings and analysis: Total 11 failure modes scored high scored RPN. Failure mode with RPN more than 200 was selected for intervention to prevent NSIs. Reasons for NS injuries were found to be recapping, not discarding sharp immediately after procedure, transferring sharp from one person to another and casual attitudes.
Conclusion: HFMEA as a tool is effective and can be used to prevent NSI. Continuous education and training programs on the safe handling of needles would help prevent NSIs in the hospitals.
Reference:
Joshi R, Ahire N, Rishipathak P. Assessing Needle-Stick Injury Risks in Healthcare Settings Using the Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (HFMEA) Tool. Hosp Top. 2025 Jul 25:1-6. doi: 10.1080/00185868.2025.2536283. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40708529.