AN OVERVIEW NEEDLE STICKS OR SHARPS RELATED INJURIES AND BLOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS

Abstract

Blood-borne pathogens are infectious microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, not limited to, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (ADIS), but also extended to other viruses, bacterial and protozoa infectious diseases. Needle-sticks and other sharps-related injuries may expose workers to blood-borne pathogens. ACGME core competencies: medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, professionalism needle stick injury (NSI) became a major issue and most of the research focuses on Nurses, Doctors and other health care workers, but at the same time nursing students in clinical duties are at high risk. This is a short selected overview of nosocomial blood-borne pathogens transmitted to health care workers by injuries.