BLOODBORNE INFECTIOUS DISEASES: HIV/AIDS, HEPATITIS B, HEPATITIS C

Preventing Needlesticks and Sharps Injuries

Sharps Safety for Healthcare Settings, including Workbook for Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Sharps Injury Prevention Program
The workbook includes several sections that describe each of the organizational steps and operational processes. A toolkit of forms and worksheets is included to help guide program development and implementation.

Use of Blunt-Tip Suture Needles to Decrease Percutaneous Injuries to Surgical Personnel: Safety and Health Information Bulletin
This bulletin is an advisory on the hazards of sharp-tip suture needles as a source of injuries to surgical personnel.

Blunt-Tip Surgical Suture Needles Reduce Needlestick Injuries and the Risk of Subsequent Bloodborne Pathogen Transmission to Surgical Personnel: FDA, NIOSH and OSHA Joint Safety Communication
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) strongly encourage health care professionals to use blunt-tip suture needles as an alternative to standard suture needles when suturing fascia and muscle to decrease the risk of needlestick injury.

Biosafety Guidance for Transportation of Specimens and for Work with Zika Virus in the Laboratory
Updated guidance released by the CDC on biosafety for labs working with Zika, which includes a special advisory to pregnant workers.

FDA, NIOSH and OSHA Joint Safety Communication: Blunt-Tip Surgical Suture Needles Reduce Needlestick Injuries and the Risk of Subsequent Bloodborne Pathogen Transmission to Surgical Personnel
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a Joint Safety Communication May 30, 2012. This document strongly encourages health care professionals to use blunt-tip suture needles as an alternative to standard suture needles when suturing fascia and muscle to decrease the risk of needlestick injury.

The STOP STICKS Campaign
The STOP STICKS campaign is a community-based information and education program. Its goal is to raise awareness about the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens from needlesticks and other sharps-related injuries in the workplace.

Use of Blunt-Tip Suture Needles to Decrease Percutaneous Injuries to Surgical Personnel
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2008-101
This document was developed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Labor, and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services.

NIOSH ALERT: Preventing Needlestick Injuries in Health Care Settings
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2000-108, 1999
En Espanol
This booklet describes the risk of needlestick injury and prevention strategies.

How to Protect Yourself From Needlestick Injuries
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2000-135
En Espanol
This pamphlet describes needlestick protection strategies.

OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention Topic Page
This document provides information on bloodborne pathogens, employer responsibilities, and workers’ rights.

Occupational Safety: Selected Cost and Benefit Implications of Needlestick Prevention Devices for Hospitals
GAO Report (GAO-01-60R), November 17, 2000

International Health Care Worker Safety Center
The University of Virginia's International Health Care Worker Safety Center is dedicated to identifying effective measures for reducing occupational exposures to and transmission of bloodborne pathogens to health care workers worldwide.

Training for Development of Innovative Control Technologies Project
TDICT, based at San Francisco General Hospital, is a collaborative effort of frontline health care workers, product designers, and industrial hygienists dedicated to preventing exposure to blood through better design and evaluation of medical devices and equipment.

World Health Organization Safe Injection Toolbox
The World Health Organization (WHO) established a voluntary coalition called the "Safe Injection Global Network" (SIGN) to promote the safe and appropriate use of injections throughout the world. One of their products is a "Toolbox" containing resources to assist in the management of national policies on the safe and appropriate use of injection.

Safer Medical Device Implementation in Health Care Facilities: Sharing Lessons Learned
NIOSH asked a small number of health care facilities to share their experiences on how they implemented safer medical devices in their settings. These facilities described each step in the process and discussed the barriers they encountered. They explained how problems were resolved, and most important, shared lessons learned.