Epidemiology of Occupational Injuries in Hospital Personnel: Findings from a Hospital Registry in Tehran, Iran

Background: Occupational injuries can expose healthcare workers (HCWs) to blood infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, C and HIV and other blood borne diseases. These could be prevented by implementing the precaution and safety procedures in workplace. This study explored the prevalence of occupational injuries among HCWs in Tehran, Iran, in 2016.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 55 HCWs at Ziaeian Hospital in Tehran. Data for HCWs with a history of occupational injuries in 2016 were retrieved from the Hospital registry and analyzed by SPSS version 22. Results: The occupational injuries were observed in 19 (34.6％) registered nurses (RNs), 8 (14.5％) licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and 7 (12.7％) doctors. The most common injuries were needle stick injuries (87.7％) and splashing blood and secretions into the eyes (12.7％). Needle stick injuries were mostly caused by drawing blood 18 (32.8％), suturing 14 (25.5％) and blood sugar testing 8 (14.5％). Conclusion: Needle stick is the most common injury among healthcare workers which may cause serious and life-threatening infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B and C and HIV. This could be prevented by risk reduction through safety measures such as vaccination, precaution in handling of sharp and contaminated objects and safe disposal of infectious waste. Furthermore, post exposure prophylaxis, psychological support and counselling should be provided for the affected HCWs.