Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention

Bloodborne Pathogens Menu Workers' Rights

Evaluating and Controlling Exposure

Engineering Controls

Engineering controls are defined in OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen standard as controls that isolate or remove the bloodborne pathogen hazard from the workplace [29 CFR 1910.1030(b)]. The standard states that "engineering and work practice controls shall be used to eliminate or minimize employee exposure" [29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(2)(i)]. This means that if an effective and clinically appropriate control, such as a safety-engineered sharp exists, an employer must evaluate and implement it.

Studies have shown that as many as one-third of all sharps injuries in the hospital setting occur during sharps disposal. Nurses are particularly at risk, as they sustain the greatest number of needlestick injuries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 62 to 88 percent of sharps injuries can be prevented simply by using safer medical devices such as blunt suture needles (Figure 3). The following references provide information regarding possible solutions for bloodborne pathogens and needlestick hazards.

Control Programs
Safer Needle Devices
Bar graph with injury rate/per 100 procedures on the left (from 0 to 7) and percentage of blunt needles used on the right (from 0 - 60), during a given year/month from 1993 (April-June, July-Sep, and Oct-Dec) to 1994 (Jan-Mar and Apr-Jun) across the bottom. The Injury rate starts less than 6 in 1993 (April-Jun) with almost zero percent blunt needles used. The injury rate rises slightly to 6 in 1993 (July-Sep) with even less percent blunt needles used than previous period. In 1993 (Oct-Dec), the injury rate stays near 6 with the percent of blunt needles used rising slightly above both of the previous two periods. In 1994 (Jan-Mar), the injury rate drops significantly just above 1 with the percent of blunt needles used increasing to above 30. From 1994 (Apr-June), the injury rate drops slightly to at or below 1 with the percent of blunt needles used increasing to near 55.
Figure 3. Rate of injury associated with the use of curved suture needles during gynecologic surgical procedures and percentage of suture needles used that were blunt, by quarter—three hospitals, New York City hospitals, April 1993–June 1994
Decontamination

Selected EPA-registered Disinfectants and FDA-Cleared Sterilants and High-Level Disinfectants.

Post-exposure Evaluation

According to EPINet® data, the 2021 average daily census for needlestick and sharp object injuries was 31 needlesticks per 100, based on 41 hospitals reporting. Percutaneous injuries (PIs) may be caused by sharp objects such as hypodermic needles, scalpels, suture needles, wires, trochanters, or surgical pins. Additionally, PIs may also be caused by saws and sharp objects deliberately contaminated with blood or body fluids used to inflict harm on law enforcement personnel. Other exposure incidents include splashes and other contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin. Post-exposure management is an integral part of a complete program for preventing infection following exposure incidents and is to be conducted by or under the supervision of a licensed physician or other licensed healthcare professional. The following references provide useful information about the management of occupational exposure incidents to blood or other potentially infectious materials.