Safety Economics
Safety Compliance is Surprisingly Affordable
Peace of Mind Costs Only Pennies More |
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Compared to a conventional syringe, the added cost of a safety syringe can be as little as 18¢. In a practice delivering around 30 injections a day, this translates to an additional cost of $5.40/day, $108.00/month, or $1,300 annually. This is far less than the cost of treating a single needlestick injury with exposure to bloodborne pathogens. |
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Quantifiable Costs of Needlestick Injury
CDC (2004) estimates that the direct costs associated with initial follow-up and treatment of healthcare workers who sustain a needlestick injury range from $500 to $3,000 depending upon the type of treatments provided.
Emotional Costs
Exposure to bloodborne pathogens due to a needlestick places a large psychological toll on a healthcare worker.
In their study of the economic impact of needlestick injuries, Lee et al. (2005) found that 10 out of 110 nurses who sustained a sharps-related injury sought emotional counseling in the year following the injury.
In a more detailed case study, Worthington, Ross, and Bergeron (2006) described two nurses who received needlestick injuries from an HIV-infected patient. Despite testing negative for HIV antibodies more than 22 months after their injuries, both nurses displayed symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): insomnia, ongoing depression and anxiety, nightmares, and panic attacks upon returning to the work environment where the injuries were received.
MSS0049 04/2012