Abstract

A needle stick surgical injury is said to have occurred if a medical practitioner punctures the skin with a needle or
sharp instrument in contact with a patient’s blood. The splashing of blood or other body fluids onto the conjunctiva is
also included. To determine the prevalence of surgical injuries, the commonest causes attributed to the same, and the
uptake of PEP among health workers at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, a descriptive cross-sectional retrospective
study was used with 168 documents reviewed. The study revealed a significant number of healthcare workers
(HCWs) experiencing needle stick accidents, with the majority of these being nurses (35%) and interns (20%). Thirtyeight
percent (38%) of accidents occurred in the procedure rooms and 29% in the inpatient departments, with 20% of
the injuries occurring in the theater. The majority (48%) of the injuries occurred during the night shift when HCWs
were on duty. Surgical needle manipulation (23%), disposal (17%), and IV access (15%) were the primary processes
responsible for most injuries. Syringe needles accounted for 36% of injuries, followed by suture needles at 26%,
phlebotomy needles at 15%, IV cannulas at 12%, and scalpels at 11%. Sixty-eight HCWs were started on PEP after
the needle stick injury, with 58 of them recovering well and only four acquiring an infection. Additional courses are
required for HCWs who are less experienced. Safety guidelines need to be posted in visually accessible locations in
both procedure rooms and inpatient wards, as most injuries occur there, allowing for easy reference in case of need.
Strict and proper scheduling of staff with adequate breaks after long working hours is necessary to avoid fatigue.
Closer monitoring and possible daily counseling for workers initiated on PEP treatment are recommended