Cost analysis of a needlestick injury

Transmission of such infectious diseases, as hepatitis B, C and HIV by needlestick injuries (NSI) involving a needle contaminated with blood is a risk for the development of an occupational disease that should not be underestimated, and results in considerable costs and liability risks for health service employers. The following analysis is an attempt to investigate the costs incurred by NSI in Germany (Figs. 1+2) and also to calculate the average litigation expenditure (Fig. 3a). Officially recognized literature, depositions from the laboratory medical area, and known therapeutic schemes served as the source of data for procedures and costs. The weighting of costs for the possibility of infection with HBV/HCV/HIV was based on the seroconversion rate. An average amount of 1601 euros per NSI event was calculated; less the refund from the social insurance against occupational accidents (SI) resulted in a sum of 846,99 euros. The SI offsets the refund difference via the premiums, so that the end result is that every hospital contributes indirectly to the defrayment of the costs incurred. Other activities that cannot be assigned to primary activities associated with an occupation-related NSI, but can be identified as secondary activities, must be factored into the above-mentioned costs (Fig. 3b). Discussion: If the costs incurred by a needlestick injury are weighed against the higher cost of procuring safe instruments, it will be found that the latter will pay for itself by reducing the number of needlestick injuries. Independently of lost staff productivity and the absence of resources - in short supply anyway - the decision on the part of hospital operators when (at what risk-related point) to consider implementing the TRBA 250 remains to be taken. An amendment to the TRBA might aid the decision-making process.