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During the last decade, healthcare institutions have attempted to decrease the risk for exposure to blood-borne pathogens by expanding education and introducing safer “sharp” medical devices. How common are needlestick injuries now among surgeons in training, for whom risk has been greatest? When do the injuries occur, and why are they not reported? To find out, researchers asked 741 surgical trainees at 17 U.S. residency programs to complete an anonymous survey regarding previous needlestick injuries.
Of 699 respondents, 582 (83%) had experienced at least 1 needlestick injury, with a mean of 3.8 injuries per resident. The prevalence of exposure increased by year of training; by the fifth postgraduate year, 99% of the trainees had had a need…