Needlestick and sharps injuries generate significant direct, indirect, potential and intangible costs that may increase over time, according to a new study from Italian researchers. The Rome-based authors used the CDC operative definitions for direct and indirect costs and converted their findings into U.S. dollars.
The research team conducted its economic analyses related to needlestick and sharps injuries in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, or PRISMA, statement and by searching multiple research databases. The results of the study were published in the journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Here are six things to know about the study and findings.
1. A total of 14 studies were retrieved, including eight data-driven studies and six modeling studies. Among them, 11 studies provided direct and indirect costs and three studies provided only direct costs.
2. The median of the average direct and indirect costs was $747, though the medians ranged from $199 to $1,691.
3. The medians of the average disaggregated costs were $425 for direct costs (in nine studies) and $322 for indirect costs (in six studies).
4. Modeling studies had higher disaggregated and aggregated costs than data-driven studies, but data-driven studies showed greater variability.
5. Indirect costs were consistent between both study types, mostly including lost productivity. Direct costs, on the other hand, varied considerably within and between studies based on source infectivity, susceptibility to hexagonal close packed metals and post-exposure diagnostic and prophylactic protocols.
6. Costs of treating infections were not included, and intangible costs could equal those associated with medical evaluations for needlestick and sharps injuries.
"Economic efforts directed at preventing occupational exposures and infections, including provision of safety-engineered devices, may be offset by the savings from a lower incidence of [needlestick and sharps injuries]," concluded the study.
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