Table 1.
Characteristics of Needlestick Injuries
| Factor | Number of Injuries, N (%) |
|---|---|
| Total respondents | 157 (88) |
| Total people injured | 55 (35) |
| Total injuries* | 65 (41) |
| Instrument* | |
| Solid needle | 45 (69) |
| Hollow bore needle | 14 (22) |
| Scalpel | 5 (78) |
| Sharp cauterizer | 1 (2) |
| Procedure* | |
| Suturing | 30 (46) |
| Assisting | 16 (25) |
| Injection of drugs i.m./i.v./s.c. | 5 (8) |
| Cleaning up after surgery | 2 (3) |
| Venipuncture | 3 (5) |
| Arterial puncture (ABG, i.v. access) | 4 (6) |
| Other | |
| Lancing a wart | 1 (2) |
| Diluting drugs | 1 (2) |
| Dissecting in anatomy | 1 (2) |
| Cleaning scalpel post pathologic dissection | 1 (2) |
| Wearing gloves at time of injury* | 61 (94) |
| Blood on instrument | 41 (63) |
| Injured by* | |
| Self | 34 (52) |
| Resident | 15 (23) |
| Staff | 14 (22) |
| Nurse | 1 (2) |
| Other medical student | 1 (2) |
| Bodily location* | |
| Hand | 63 (97) |
| Arm | 2 (3) |
*
Some categories add to greater than the number of students injured because of multiple injuries in the same person.