Authors

Injuries caused by sharps (sharp-cutting instruments) are o

Position

Endocrinólogo. Director de Seguridad en Medicina de la Asociación Médica Europea (Bruselas).

Contact address

Myriam Otaola. Lindsell Marketing. 7 Praed Street. London W2 1NJ.

Contact email: myriam@lindsellmarketing.com

Abstract

Injuries caused by sharps (sharp-cutting instruments) are one of the most frequent occupational hazards facing nurses, doctors and other health professionals and those working in subsequent functions such as cleaning or disposal. These injuries are particularly dangerous in view of their ability to transmit more than 20 bloodborne potentially lethal pathogens, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV, although many of these incidents are never reported by different reasons. 1/10.000 ml of infected plasma is sufficient for transmission of HBV and many times this amount is present inside the cylinder or on the sides of sharp-cutting medical instruments, or even in devices not specifically used for blood collection or the vascular access.

Keywords:

safety of health personnel; safety needles; accidental needle sticksbiological hazards

Versión en Español

Título:

Riesgo de lesiones por instrumental cortopunzante en las inyecciones