Needlestick injuries in residency

Quick View. Aug. 20, 2007.

By their fifth year, 99% of surgical residents have had a needlestick injury, and 53% reported these injuries involved a high-risk patient.

Year of training	Residents surveyed	Residents with needlesticks	Needlesticks per resident (mean)
All years	699	582 (83%)	3.8
First year	221	141 (64%)	1.5
Second year	141	125 (89%)	3.7
Third	156	146 (94%)	4.1
Fourth	102	93 (91%)	5.3
Fifth	78	77 (99%)	7.7

Despite the risk, 51% of surgical residents did not report these injuries, which delayed or prevented treatment.

Source: New England Journal of Medicine, June 28

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» Campaign targets needlestick injuries March 22/29, 2004
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