Sharp instruments social partner agreement

Background

The European Parliament (EP) has had a long interest in needle-stick injuries, which has manifested itself, for example in the large number of Parliament questions. In April 2006 the interest increased, as a result of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee adopting Stephen Hughes’ report on protecting European healthcare workers from blood-borne infections due to needle-stick injuries. The report was drawn up under a procedure allowing the European Parliament to request the European Commission (EC) to draft new legislative proposals.

On 6 July 2006 the EP adopted a resolution on protecting European healthcare workers from blood-borne infections due to needle-stick injuries. The resolution requests the Commission ‘to submit to EP within three months of the date of adoption of the resolution, a legislative proposal for amending Directive 2000/54/EC on biological agents’. The EC launched the first phase of social dialogue in December 2006. The European Hospital and Healthcare Employers Association’s (HOSPEEM) response to the social dialogue was that although action should be taken to raise the profile of needle-stick injuries, and their effect on health care workers in Europe, legislation was not necessary.

Main provisions

The main risk of needle-stick injuries to workers is exposure to blood-borne viruses (BBV). The main viruses concerned are Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV) and Human immune deficiency virus (HIV). In the case of HBV an effective protective vaccine is available, but no such protection is available for the other BBVs. These other infections are difficult to treat. The prophylaxis/treatment is unpleasant and may cause significant side effects, nor is there a guarantee that treatment will be successful. However, as the prevalence/carriage rates of BBVs in the general UK population is generally low, the risk of infection from needle-stick injuries remains low, and as a result the vast majority of incidents, which often result in minor injury, remain unreported.

The main group of workers at risk are those within the healthcare sector. Healthcare workers (HCW) may acquire a BBV infection if they are exposed to infected blood or body fluids. This could be either via the mucous membranes (eyes, inside of the mouth), through broken skin or through an inoculation injury route, where the skin is punctured or scratched by a needle or sharp device that has been used in a medical procedure. This final route of transmission is commonly referred to as a needle-stick injury.

Latest developments

Recently a seven-year study conducted by the HPA, titled Eye of the Needle published data collated across 150 reporting centres on significant occupational exposure to BBVs amongst HCWs. The study reported that needle-stick injuries were the most commonly reported type of significant exposure, with 63% of those injuries caused by hollow-bore needles. 45% of these occurred amongst nursing professionals and 37% amongst medical professionals. A much lower incidence was identified amongst professions allied to medicine and ancillary staff. Only 2% of the exposures occurred in ancillary staff, but most were sustained from inappropriately discarded needles in rubbish bags.

Links

• Guidance for Clinical Health Care Workers: Protection against Infection with Blood-borne viruses
• Eye of the Needle Study