Keyword Search Parameters

blood_keywords <- c("blood", "bled", "bleed", "bleeding", "bloody", "bloods")

hiv_keywords <- c("hiv", "HIV", "human immunodeficiency virus", "hiv-positive", "HIV-positive")

hepatitisb_keywords <- c("Hepatitis B", "hepatitis B", "hepatitis b", "Hep B", "hep b", "hep B")

hepatitisc_keywords <- c("Hepatitis C", "hepatitis C", "hepatitis c", "Hep C", "hep c", "hep C")

hepatitis_keywords <- c("Hepatitis", "hepatitis", "Hep", "hep")

neeedlestick_keywords <- c("poke", "prick", "needlestick", "needle stick", "pricked", "puncture", "poked", "needlesticked", "needle sticked", "sticked", "stabbed", "poking", "through the cap", "punctured", "needlesticks", "lancet")

purple_keywords <- c("purple")

recap_keywords <- c("recapped", "recapping", "recap", "re cap", "re capping", "re capped", "re-cap", "re-capped", "re-capping")

high_risk_keywords <- c("high risk")

low_risk_keywords <- c("low risk")

tool_syringe_keywords <- c("syringe")

tool_scalpel_keywords <- c("scalpel", "scalpels", "keratome")

tool_sharp_keywords <- c("sharps", "sharp", "broken glass", "razor", "blade")

tool_needle_keywords <- c("needlestick", "needle stick", "poke", "prick", "needlesticked", "needle sticked", "sticked", "stabbed", "stab", "poking", "through the cap", "punctured", "auto injector")

tool_pin_keywords <- c("pin", "pinned")

tool_drill_keywords <- c("drill", "drills", "drilling", "drilled")

tool_suture_keywords <- c("suture", "sutured", "suturing")

tool_saw_keywords <- c("bandsaw", "band saw")

tool_scissors_keywords <- c("scissor", "scissors")

Results

Incident Table

Total sharps incidents by Occupation, Facility, and Department since January 2021 (> 10 incidents, descending).
Occupation Facility Department Count
Direct Patient Care - Profile Classification - Level 3 Vancouver General Hospital - VGH Operating Rooms-VGH 57
Resident II Residents Redirection BCIR-Van.Hospital (12th-Oak)-VGH 24
Direct Patient Care - Profile Classification - Level 3 Vancouver General Hospital - VGH Acute Medicine-VGH 22
Direct Patient Care - Profile Classification - Level 3 Vancouver General Hospital - VGH Emergency-VGH 18
Direct Patient Care - Profile Classification - Level 3 Vancouver General Hospital - VGH Vascular Surg_Gen Surg T8-VGH 17
Direct Patient Care - Profile Classification - Level 3 Vancouver General Hospital - VGH Intensive Care Unit-VGH 16
Direct Patient Care - Profile Classification - Level 3 Vancouver General Hospital - VGH Urology_Gynaec-VGH 16
Resident I Residents Redirection BCIR-Van.Hospital (12th-Oak)-VGH 16
Direct Patient Care - Profile Classification - Level 3 Lions Gate Hospital Operating Rooms-Lions Gate Hospital 14
Resident II Vancouver General Hospital - VGH BCIR-Van.Hospital (12th-Oak)-VGH 14
Community Health Worker 2 CART, Home Support and Home Vive HS CHA 6 - CHW-Vancouver Community 12
Nursing Assistant II (Sterile Supply) Vancouver General Hospital - VGH Medical Device Reprocess Dept-VGH 12
Resident III Residents Redirection BCIR-Van.Hospital (12th-Oak)-VGH 12
Direct Patient Care - Profile Classification - Level 3 Vancouver General Hospital - VGH General Surgery-VGH 11
Direct Patient Care - Profile Classification - Level 3 Vancouver General Hospital - VGH Neurosciences T5_T6-VGH 11
  • Most VGH OR incidents occurred while passing suture/needle driver. Needle often clean but gloves contaminated.
  • Most VGH Acute Medicine incidents occurred while administering insulin or Enoxaparin. In a few incidents it was mentioned that the patient moved.
  • Most VGH Emergency incidents occurred while administering IVs or when withdrawing needles.
  • Most VGH Urology_Gynaec incidents occurred when trying to engage safety mechanism and when administering injections.
  • Resident II incidents mostly occurred during suturing, recapping/discarding of needles, while administering IVs.
  • Most VGH Vascular Surg_Gen Surg T8-VGH incidents occurred while administering injections (insulin, Enoxaparin, Heparin).
  • Most VGH ICU incidents occurred after drawing blood or administering injections such as insulin.

Incident Visualization

Total sharps incidents and tool types since January 2021.

Total sharps incidents and tool types since January 2021.

Disease Exposure Visualization

Total disease exposure incidents since January 2021.

Total disease exposure incidents since January 2021.

  • Does not identify when multiple diseases are listed in one incident report
  • Includes incidents that involve staff immunizing people against hepatitis