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Needlestick injuries among surgeons in training.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Makary, MA; Al-Attar, A; Holzmueller, CG; Sexton, JB; Syin, D; Gilson, MM; Sulkowski, MS; Pronovost, PJ
Published in: N Engl J Med
June 28, 2007

BACKGROUND: Surgeons in training are at high risk for needlestick injuries. The reporting of such injuries is a critical step in initiating early prophylaxis or treatment. METHODS: We surveyed surgeons in training at 17 medical centers about previous needlestick injuries. Survey items inquired about whether the most recent injury was reported to an employee health service or involved a "high-risk" patient (i.e., one with a history of infection with human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B or hepatitis C, or injection-drug use); we also asked about the perceived cause of the injury and the surrounding circumstances. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 95%. Of 699 respondents, 582 (83%) had had a needlestick injury during training; the mean number of needlestick injuries during residency increased according to the postgraduate year (PGY): PGY-1, 1.5 injuries; PGY-2, 3.7; PGY-3, 4.1; PGY-4, 5.3; and PGY-5, 7.7. By their final year of training, 99% of residents had had a needlestick injury; for 53%, the injury had involved a high-risk patient. Of the most recent injuries, 297 of 578 (51%) were not reported to an employee health service, and 15 of 91 of those involving high-risk patients (16%) were not reported. Lack of time was the most common reason given for not reporting such injuries among 126 of 297 respondents (42%). If someone other than the respondent knew about an unreported injury, that person was most frequently the attending physician (51%) and least frequently a "significant other" (13%). CONCLUSIONS: Needlestick injuries are common among surgeons in training and are often not reported. Improved prevention and reporting strategies are needed to increase occupational safety for surgical providers.

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Published In

N Engl J Med

DOI

EISSN

1533-4406

Publication Date

June 28, 2007

Volume

356

Issue

26

Start / End Page

2693 / 2699

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Truth Disclosure
  • Specialties, Surgical
  • Sex Factors
  • Needlestick Injuries
  • Male
  • Internship and Residency
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female
 

Citation

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Makary, M. A., Al-Attar, A., Holzmueller, C. G., Sexton, J. B., Syin, D., Gilson, M. M., … Pronovost, P. J. (2007). Needlestick injuries among surgeons in training. N Engl J Med, 356(26), 2693–2699. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa070378
Makary, Martin A., Ali Al-Attar, Christine G. Holzmueller, J Bryan Sexton, Dora Syin, Marta M. Gilson, Mark S. Sulkowski, and Peter J. Pronovost. “Needlestick injuries among surgeons in training.N Engl J Med 356, no. 26 (June 28, 2007): 2693–99. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa070378.
Makary MA, Al-Attar A, Holzmueller CG, Sexton JB, Syin D, Gilson MM, et al. Needlestick injuries among surgeons in training. N Engl J Med. 2007 Jun 28;356(26):2693–9.
Makary, Martin A., et al. “Needlestick injuries among surgeons in training.N Engl J Med, vol. 356, no. 26, June 2007, pp. 2693–99. Pubmed, doi:10.1056/NEJMoa070378.
Makary MA, Al-Attar A, Holzmueller CG, Sexton JB, Syin D, Gilson MM, Sulkowski MS, Pronovost PJ. Needlestick injuries among surgeons in training. N Engl J Med. 2007 Jun 28;356(26):2693–2699.

Published In

N Engl J Med

DOI

EISSN

1533-4406

Publication Date

June 28, 2007

Volume

356

Issue

26

Start / End Page

2693 / 2699

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Truth Disclosure
  • Specialties, Surgical
  • Sex Factors
  • Needlestick Injuries
  • Male
  • Internship and Residency
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Female