Needles and Other Sharps

In health care settings, injuries from needles or other sharp instruments are the number-one cause of occupational exposure to bloodborne infections. All staff who come in contact with sharps--from doctors and nurses to those who dispose of the trash--are at risk of infections.

What are "sharps"?:
The term sharps refers to any sharp instrument or object used in the delivery of health care services--including hypodermic needles, suture needles, scalpel blades, sharp instruments, IV catheters, and razor blades.

Objectives
This module provides information on ways of reducing the risk of transmitting infections when using, handling, and disposing of needles and other sharps. When you complete this module, you should be able to:

List ways that health care workers can become injured by sharps
Describe and demonstrate the proper procedures for use and disposal of needles and other sharps
Describe the proper procedures for managing injuries from sharps

NOTE:
Most of the documented cases of workplace-acquired HIV and hepatitis B
and C infections have occurred through preventable accidents, such as sticks with needles or injuries from other sharps.

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