Prevalence of Occupational Exposure to Needle-Stick Injuries among Healthcare Workers at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Record Based Study

Introduction: Needle stick injuries (NSIs) are significant occupational hazards among healthcare workers (HCWs), exposing them to blood-borne infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. Institution-specific data are essential to design targeted preventive strategies. This study estimated the prevalence of NSIs and identified associated risk factors in a tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: A retrospective record-based study was conducted at an 810-bedded tertiary care hospital in Northwest Maharashtra from January 2023 to September 2025. Data on NSIs were obtained from the Infection Prevention and Control Department. Prevalence was calculated per 100 inpatient days. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Results: A total of 105 NSIs were reported over 33 months, with an overall prevalence of 0.015 per 100 inpatient days. Nursing staff (28.5%) and housekeeping/attendant staff (26.6%) were most affected. Most injuries occurred in wards (47.6%) and among HCWs aged 20-25 years (62.8%). Blood sample collection (40%) was the most common procedure, and needle recapping (36.1%) was the leading cause. Post-exposure prophylaxis for hepatitis B and HIV was administered in 11.4% and 12.3% of cases, respectively. Conclusion: Although the prevalence of needle stick injuries (NSIs) in our study was low, ongoing efforts are essential to ensure the safe handling of sharps in healthcare settings. Prompt reporting of incidents, coupled with timely initiation of post-exposure prophylaxis, is critical to prevent transmission of blood-borne infections among healthcare workers. Continuous training, adherence to infection control protocols, and the use of safety-engineered devices can further minimize the risk of NSIs and enhance workplace safety.