More Than 9 in 10 Surgeons Encounter a Needlestick Injury, New Global Survey Finds

LONDON, Sept. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --  

• 81% believe high quality gloves impact patient outcomes;
• 92% agreed high quality gloves improve safety of clinicians;
• Survey demonstrates importance surgeons place on high quality gloves in protecting against infection and patient safety;
• For more information go to https://www.molnlycke.com/biogel/

95% of surgeons have either been personally affected by a needlestick injury or have seen a colleague experience one, increasing the risk of infection, a new global survey of surgeons has found.   

Clinician safety

An estimated two million needlestick injuries occur among health workers each year, resulting in increased exposure to HIV, Hepatitis C and other blood-borne viruses.[1] Needlestick injuries occur when a needle or other sharp instrument accidentally penetrates the skin, yet the underreporting to occupational health departments is well established.[2] The survey revealed 93% of surgeons think that high quality gloves reduce the chance of exposure to blood-borne viruses and 83% said the quality of gloves affects their sense of being protected from needlestick injuries.

Patient safety

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) are the most frequent adverse event in healthcare delivery worldwide.[3] Hundreds of millions of patients are affected by HAIs worldwide each year, leading to significant mortality rates. Of every 100 hospitalized patients, an estimated seven patients in developed countries will acquire at least one HAI.[4]

On the topic of patient safety, 81% of surgeons believe high quality gloves impact overall patient outcomes and 89% agreed that high quality gloves improve patient safety in the operating theatre. When asked about glove failure during an operation, 78% of surgeons responded that it increases the risk of surgical site infections.

The survey – the first of its kind undertaken – was conducted by SERMO for Mölnlycke. It looked at key opinions from 510 surgeons across six countries relating to infection prevention and the role of high quality gloves in improving patient and clinician safety.

Commenting on the survey findings, John Timmons, Clinical Staff Nurse and International Medical Director, said:

"Each year, millions of surgeons and their teams risk exposure to life threatening blood-borne viruses and this ground-breaking survey highlights the value that surgeons across the globe place on high quality gloves. Surgeons clearly recognise their role in both ensuring the safety of surgeons and improving outcomes for patients.

"Surgical gloves are one of the key factors that prevent infections in the operating room and should not be viewed as a commodity. High quality means fewer glove failures, yet we are increasingly seeing healthcare systems around the world prioritise price over quality."

About Mölnlycke

Mölnlycke is a world leading medical solutions company.  Our purpose is to advance performance in healthcare across the world. That is why we aspire to equip everybody in healthcare with solutions to achieve the best outcomes. We develop and bring to market innovative wound care and surgical solutions along the entire continuum of care – from prevention to post-acute settings.   

References: 
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4145516/ 
[2] https://publishing.rcseng.ac.uk/doi/pdf/10.1308/003588409X359213  
[3] https://www.who.int/gpsc/country_work/gpsc_ccisc_fact_sheet_en.pdf  [4] https://www.who.int/gpsc/country_work/gpsc_ccisc_fact_sheet_en.pdf  

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/998246/Molnlycke_Logo.jpg