Needlestick and sharps Injuries among dental practitioners: a cross-sectional study of prevalence, risk factors, and postexposure management.

BACKGROUND

Needlestick and sharp injuries (NSIs) are a significant occupational hazard for dental practitioners, carrying a substantial risk of bloodborne pathogen transmission. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with NSI exposures among dental practitioners in Sana'a, Yemen.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

An online survey was conducted among dental practitioners at university dental hospitals, public health centers, and private clinics in Sana'a, Yemen. The self-administered questionnaire collected information on demographic background, history of NSIs, post-exposure practices, infection control compliance, and perceptions. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors independently associated with lifetime NSI.

RESULTS

The lifetime prevalence of NSI was 88.18% (373/423). Among those with NSI, 36.19% reported one injury in the past 12 months, and 24.66% reported four or more injuries. The most common device was the syringe needle (61.66%), and the most frequent procedure was local anesthesia administration (39.14%). Only 11.26% of injured participants underwent post-exposure testing for bloodborne viruses, and only 9.38% received post-exposure prophylaxis. In multivariable analysis, treating more than 12 patients per day was independently associated with increased odds of NSI (adjusted odds ratio 3.50; 95% CI 1.45-8.46; p = 0.005). No other demographic, infection control practice, or resource variable remained significant after adjustment.

CONCLUSION

The extremely high prevalence of NSI among dental practitioners in Sana'a, Yemen, together with very low uptake of post-exposure measures, represents a critical occupational safety failure. High patient volume emerged as a potentially modifiable associated factor. Interventions should be evaluated to prioritize workload management, universal access to safety-engineered devices, and systematic post-exposure protocols, alongside educational efforts to counter the perception that NSIs are inevitable.