University of Virginia Health System

M.D. (attending/staff)

152

8%

M.D. (intern/resident/fellow)

127

7%

Medical student

13

1%

Nurse RN/LPN

836

44%

Nursing student

12

1%

Respiratory therapist

30

2%

Surgery attendant

172

9%

Other attendant

27

1%

Phlebotomist/venipuncture/I.V. team

114

6%

Clinical laboratory worker

38

2%

Technologist (non-lab)

94

5%

Dentist

2

0%

Dental hygienist

0

0%

Housekeeper

64

3%

Laundry worker

2

0%

Paramedic

7

0%

CNA/HHA

48

3%

Security

2

0%

Other student

27

1%

Other

151

8%

(1,918 records)

Where did the injury occur in the institution?

Patient room

601

31%

Outside patient room

45

2%

Emergency department

177

9%

Intensive/critical care unit

91

5%

Operating room

564

29%

Outpatient clinic/office

92

5%

Blood bank

1

0%

Venipuncture center

16

1%

Dialysis facility

13

1%

Procedure room

77

4%

Clinical laboratories

38

2%

Autopsy/pathology

14

1%

Service/utility area

29

2%

Labor and delivery

38

2%

Home-care

26

1%

Other

98

5%

(1,920 records)

Was the source patient known?

Yes

1,733

90%

No

124

7%

Unknown

47

2%

N/A

16

1%

(1,920 records)

Was the injured worker the original user of the sharp item?

Yes

1,098

58%

No

735

39%

Unknown

35

2%

N/A

31

2%

(1,899 records)

Was the sharp item:

Contaminated

1,701

89%

Uncontaminated

52

3%

Unknown

157

8%

(1,910 records)

For what purpose was the sharp item originally used?

Unknown, N/A

152

8%

Injection, IM/subcutaneous

396

21%

Heparin or saline flush

32

2%

Other injection into IV site or port

86

5%

Connect IV line

16

1%

Start IV or heparin lock

91

5%

Draw venous blood sample

298

16%

Draw arterial blood sample

42

2%

Obtain body fluid/tissue sample

29

2%

Fingerstick/heel stick

44

2%

Suturing

342

18%

Cutting (surgery)

145

8%

Electrocautery

9

0%

Contain specimen/pharmaceutical

11

1%

Place arterial line

24

1%

Fingernails/teeth

0

0%

Drilling

12

1%

Other

181

10%

(1,910 records)

Did the injury occur:

Before use

41

2%

During use

564

30%

Between steps

257

13%

Disassembling

79

4%

Preparing for reuse

36

2%

Recapping

68

4%

Withdrawing from resistant material

67

4%

Other after use, before disposal

314

16%

Item left on disposal container

12

1%

Putting item into disposal container

122

6%

After disposal, item protuding from disposal container

53

3%

Pierced side of disposal container

5

0%

Pierced trash/side of inappropriate disposal container

39

2%

Restraining patient

10

1%

Device left on floor/bed/table/inappropriate place

116

6%

Other

130

7%

(1,913 records)

What device or item caused the injury?

Disposable syringe

657

36%

Prefilled cartridge syringe

51

3%

Blood gas syringe

21

1%

Syringe, other type or not sure which

14

1%

Needle on IV line/tubing

9

1%

Winged needle IV set

121

7%

IV catheter (stylet)

66

4%

Vacuum tube blood collection needle/holder

76

4%

Spinal or epidural needle

5

0%

Unattached hypodermic needle

18

1%

Arterial catheter introducer needle

10

1%

Central line catheter introducer needle

6

0%

Drum catheter needle

0

0%

Other vascular catheter needle

4

0%

Other non-vascular catheter needle

1

0%

Needle, not sure what kind

42

2%

Other needle

65

4%

.

Lancet

41

2%

Suture needle

326

18%

Scalpel, reusable

77

4%

Razor

6

0%

Pipette (plastic)

0

0%

Scissors

14

1%

Bovie electrocautery device

9

1%

Bone cutter

6

0%

Bone chip

0

0%

Towel clip

4

0%

Microtome blade

6

0%

Trocar

2

0%

Vacuum tube, plastic

1

0%

Specimen/test tube, plastic

0

0%

Fingernails/teeth

4

0%

Scalpel, disposable

48

3%

Retractor, skin/bone hooks

14

1%

Staples/steel sutures

3

0%

Wire

15

1%

Pin

11

1%

Drill bit/bur

3

0%

Pickups/forcepts/hemostats/clamps

8

0%

Sharp item, not sure what kind

8

0%

Other item

45

2%

.

Medication ampule

1

0%

Medication vial (small)

0

0%

Pipette, glass

0

0%

Vacuum tube, glass

5

0%

Specimen/test tube, glass

5

0%

Capillary tube

1

0%

Glass slide

2

0%

Glass item, not sure what kind

2

0%

Other glass item

10

1%

(1,843 records)

If the item causing the injury was a needle, was it a safety design with a shielded, recessed, or retractable needle?

Yes

401

22%

No

1,291

72%

Unknown

103

6%

(1,795 records)

If the item causing the injury was a safety design with a shielded, recessed, or retractable needle, was the safety mechanism activated?

Yes, fully

44

12%

Yes, partially

61

17%

No

264

72%

(369 records)

If the item causing the injury was a safety design with a shielded, recessed, or retractable needle, did the injury happen?

Before activation

187

58%

During activation

84

26%

After activation

54

17%

(325 records)

Was the injury:

Superficial

918

49%

Moderate

866

47%

Severe

76

4%

(1,860 records)

Right hand

735

Left hand

1,030

Arm

46

Face/Head

5

Chest/Front

5

Back

2

Leg

22

Foot and ankle

7

(1,852 records)