Occupational Injuries Prone to Infectious Risks amongst Healthcare Personnel in Kuwait: A Retrospective Study

mostly during drawing blood and the insertion or removal of needles from patients [88 (35.4%)] and when performing surgical interventions [56 (22.6%)]. Easily preventable expo-sures such as injuries related to 2-handed recapping of nee-dles [24 (9.6%)] and garbage collection [21 (8.4%)] were re-ported. Exposures mainly occurred in the inpatient wards [75 (30.1%)] and operating theaters [56 (22.6%)]. Among the exposed HCP, 130 (52.2%) had been fully vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Conclusion: Needle stick injuries are the most common exposure among HCP in Kuwait, and nurses are the most frequently involved HCP category. A good proportion of exposures could be easily prevented. HBV vaccination coverage is incomplete. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Base