Background: Health care workers (HCWs) are frequently exposed to the danger of infectious agents through needlestick and sharps injury (NSSI). In Saudi Arabia, the hepatitis B and C viruses pose a great threat to the ...
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Background: Health care workers (HCWs) are frequently exposed to the danger of infectious agents through needlestick and sharps injury (NSSI). In Saudi Arabia, the hepatitis B and C viruses pose a great threat to the HCW because of their high prevalence rate (8 %-10 % and 2 % -6 %, respectively). Method: A prospective study on the management of NSSI at King Fahad National Guard Hospital from 1996 to 2000. Data relating to the epidemiology of NSSI were collected with the Exposure Prevention Information Network (ERINet) data collection tool. 1997. Results: The results were compared with data as reported by EPINet 1998. Consistency was demonstrated between King Fahad National Guard Hospital and ERINet 1998 for the occupational categories. locations, and the devices involved. Three anomalies were noted: (1) housekeeping staff injuries ranked third at our facility and eighth as reported by EPINet 1998: (2) injuries caused by devices discarded inappropriately commonly occurred at this facility but were not reported by EPINet;and (3) injuries due to unsafe practices ranked third at our hospital but ranked seventh in EPINet. To date, only 1 employee in our hospital had a seroconversion to hepatitis C. Conclusion: This surveillance highlighted risky practices and demonstrated employees and locations frequently involved in NSSIs. An education program was designed for all staff at risk of exposure, targeting higher-risk employees.
Background: Concern about occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens exists, and medical students, who lack in experience in patient care and surgical technique, may be at an increased exposure risk. Methods: This ...
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Background: Concern about occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens exists, and medical students, who lack in experience in patient care and surgical technique, may be at an increased exposure risk. Methods: This prospective cohort study evaluated needlestick injuries and practices regarding the use of protective strategies against bloodborne pathogens in medical students. A questionnaire was developed and sent to 224 medical students. Results: Of 224 students, 146 students (64%) returned questionnaires. Forty-three students (30%) reported needlestick injuries that most commonly occurred in the operating room;86% of students reported always using double gloves in the operating room;90% reported always wearing eye protection, and all but one student had been vaccinated against hepatitis B. A concern about contracting a bloodborne pathogen through work was noted in 125 students, although they usually reported that this concern only slightly influenced their decision regarding a career subspecialty. Conclusion: Medical students have a high risk for needlestick injuries, and attention should be directed to protection strategies against bloodborne pathogens.
Just as quality programs have evolved into organization-wide performance improvement efforts, the quality professional's role has expanded, bringing new challenges and expectations. The quality services umbrella, ...
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Just as quality programs have evolved into organization-wide performance improvement efforts, the quality professional's role has expanded, bringing new challenges and expectations. The quality services umbrella, an operational framework for a total systems quality process, helps organization leaders and quality professionals identify organizational functions that contribute to overall performance. This article describes the benefits of utilizing the quality services umbrella framework through five examples. Each example highlights different benefits of the model, such as identifying a system's quality issues, enhancing performance improvement efforts, sustaining improvements, and effecting cost savings.
Quality improvement (QI) monitoring of universal precautions at the author's facility appeared to indicate that although personal protective equipment is always available and staff are increasingly aware of the ne...
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Quality improvement (QI) monitoring of universal precautions at the author's facility appeared to indicate that although personal protective equipment is always available and staff are increasingly aware of the need to protect themselves, compliance with medical center practices remained inconsistent. The use, throughout the QI program at the medical center, of appropriate indicators to monitor for sharps incidents and body fluid splashes continues to highlight the need for innovative activities to help staff achieve more optimal compliance with medical center policies. Causes for noncompliance are examined using a problem-solving approach accompanied by various continuous quality improvement (CQI) tools. Root causes are explored with the intention of providing support rather than blame for the findings. Outcomes of activities that were implemented to improve compliance with medical center policies and practices are highlighted.
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