SHARPS INJURY SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME
1.INTRODUCTION
Health care workers exposures to blood borne pathogens as a result of injuries caused by needles and other sharp devices are a significant public health concern. In the United States of America, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between 600,000 and 800,000 percutaneous injuries from contaminated sharp devices occur each year in health care nationwide and approximately half are sustained by hospital workers. Referring to the data collected by the Occupational Health Unit, Ministry of Health from 1998-2005, needlestick injury is the major cause of injuries among the Ministry of Health personnel which contribute an approximately 75 percent of all injuries. Similarly for Sarawak Health Department, it contribute to 69 percent of all injuries for the period of 2003 to 2007.