Sharps injuries are a major cause of transmission of hepatitis B and C viruses and human
immunodeficiency virus in health-care workers. To determine the yearly incidence and causes of
sharps injuries in health-care workers in Taiwan, we conducted a questionnaire survey in a
total of 8645 health care workers, including physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, and
cleaners, from teaching hospitals of various sizes. The reported incidence of needlestick and
other sharps injuries was 1·30 and 1·21 per person in the past 12 months, respectively. Of most
recent episodes of needlestick/sharps injury, 52·0% were caused by ordinary syringe needles,
usually in the patient units. The most frequently reported circumstances of needlestick were
recapping of needles, and those of sharps injuries were opening of ampoules/vials. Of needles
which stuck the health-care workers, 54·8% had been used in patients, 8·2% of whom were
known to have hepatitis B or C, syphilis, or human immunodeficiency virus infection. Sharps
injuries in health-care workers in Taiwan occur more frequently than generally thought and
risks of contracting blood-borne infectious diseases as a result are very high.
Management of health care workers following occupational exposure to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus