Abstract
HIGHLIGHTS: Public health relevance—How does this work relate to a public health issue? Twenty years after the introduction of the European legislation for the prevention of sharp injuries and the national implementation in workplaces, annual reports of sharps injuries remain at almost unchanged levels. Around one third of sharps injuries involved a feature with an integrated safety mechanism. Public health significance—Why is this work of significance to public health? Around one third of sharps injuries occurred after use and were related to disposal. Insulin injection devices were the most frequent cause of sharps injuries among healthcare workers in nursing homes. Public health implications—What are the key implications or messages for practitioners, policy makers and/or researchers in public health? Training on the proper disposal of used sharp instruments should be provided to all occupational groups involved. Healthcare workers and trainees should be offered regular training to feel confident in the use of safety-engineered devices. ABSTRACT: Despite the implementation of safety-engineered devices (SEDs) in Germany, percutaneous sharps injuries (PSIs) caused by medical devices remain a major occupational risk for healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of PSIs and the circumstances of SED-associated PSIs in hospitals, medical practices, and nursing homes. Routine data from a statutory accident insurance provider for 2015–2024 were used to analyze PSI trends (n = 481,575), and survey data from online questionnaires were used to analyze circumstances of PSIs (n = 791). Routine data showed a slight decline (6.1%) in PSIs over the past 10 years across all sectors. Hospitals and medical practices had the highest rates (30.2 and 21.6 PSIs per 1000 full-time equivalents, respectively). The devices most frequently involved were blood collection needles in hospitals and medical practices and insulin pens in nursing homes. Overall, 43.1% of PSIs were related to the improper disposal of used devices. Around 31.1% of PSIs were associated with SEDs. Around 33% of SED-related injuries occurred during disposal. High workload and distraction were the most frequently reported causes of injuries. Regular training should be provided to raise staff awareness of the proper handling and disposal of used devices.