Hospital workers and other medical professionals face a variety of hazards at work. They might overexert themselves while lifting patients or get hurt by violent individuals. Accidental contact with equipment is one of the most serious hazards for those in the medical sector. Workers might make contact with dangerous equipment such as an artificial external defibrillation device. They could also end up injured by the syringes and other sharp tools.
Accidental needle sticks are a significant safety concern for those in the medical sector. How risky is an accidental needle stick?
Pathogen exposure determines the risk
A healthcare professional who accidentally breaks their skin with a tool previously used on a patient with a blood-borne infection could be at risk of developing the same illness. The likelihood of infection depends in part on the illness involved and the extent of the exposure.
For example, those who experience an accidental needle stick while treating someone with HIV have a roughly one in 300 chance of contracting HIV. Certain factors, including the severity of the infection in the patient, may impact their likelihood of developing this potentially deadly illness.
With other conditions, infection rates might possibly be higher. Those exposed to hepatitis B without immunizations could have a one in three risk of infection.
Nurses and other medical professionals exposed to pathogens through accidental needle sticks may require ongoing medical monitoring for months to detect signs of infection as early as possible. In some cases, they may require a leave of absence from work to undergo treatment.
Accidental needle sticks could make medical employees eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Learning more about the hazards of medical careers may help injured or sickened workers take appropriate steps for their own protection. Those involved in a needlestick may need help seeking benefits to cover their medical expenses and lost wages, and that’s okay.
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