More in-depth information and a review of evidence for each recommendation can be found in the complete recommended practices (RP) document.5 The new “Recommended practices for sharps safety” supersedes the “AORN guidance statement: Sharps injury prevention in the perioperative setting,”6 developed in 2005. The intent of the guidance statement was to assist perioperative RNs in developing sharps injury prevention programs and overcoming obstacles to compliance with the suggested

and mandated practices. Federal regulations and strong research evidence provided support for a stronger position on sharps safety, so the RP document was developed to replace the guidance statement. Although many of the responsibilities and risk-reduction strategies from the guidance statement have been carried over into the RP document, the new PD98059 document provides the format of recommendations followed by evidence-based

rationales, evidence-rated intervention statements, and supporting UMI-77 activity statements. The evidence supporting the recommendations is derived from regulatory controls, randomized controlled trials, and Cochrane systematic reviews. Approximately 500,000 health care workers each year experience percutaneous injuries.3 and 7 Percutaneous injuries are associated with occupational transmission of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and HIV, which can result in lifelong health concerns.4 Percutaneous injuries also present a risk to patients; a health care provider who is infected with a bloodborne pathogen and who then receives a percutaneous injury can inadvertently infect Rebamipide a patient through contact with the contaminated sharp or contact with the health care provider’s blood through an unnoticed glove perforation. Between 1991 and 2005, 132 cases of health care provider-to-patient transmission of hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or HIV were documented.8 Anyone who has experienced an occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens knows the emotional burden of fear, worry, and concern that follows, which may be far greater than the actual physical injury. The real or potential

economic burdens also can cause additional stress. Costs to the health care worker are any expenses incurred because of missed work days. Potential economic burdens include the inability to continue working because of an illness that results from the occupational exposure. Costs to the employer include the postexposure management, the laboratory tests and follow-up testing, and any necessary prophylaxis, as well as loss of productivity of the health care worker. The annual cost of percutaneous sharps injuries has been estimated at $65 million.9 The cost for a health care facility to manage an occupational exposure can range from $71 to $4,838 per exposure.10 Two significant pieces of legislation, the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard 29 CFR §1910.