Workplace Exposure to Sharp Injuries and Prophylaxis Adherence Among Emergency Department Personnel

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery | Vol. 14, No. 9, September 2026 | pp. 225–234

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJNM/000157

Original Research Article

Title: Workplace Exposure to Sharp Injuries and Prophylaxis Adherence Among Emergency Department Personnel

Names of Authors: Sibongile M. Ndlovu¹, Grace M. Malfoya²

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹Department of Nursing Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
²Kamuzu College of Nursing, University of Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi

Abstract:
Accidental percutaneous sharps injuries inside busy emergency centers present high risks for transmitting blood-borne infections to frontline nurses. This study determined the annual prevalence of sharps injuries and analyzed barriers to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) tracking among emergency nursing staff. A multi-site cross-sectional design distributed a validated percutaneous safety survey to 150 emergency department nurses. The findings showed a past-year injury prevalence rate of 44.6%, with a mean exposure frequency of 1.6 incidents per affected nurse. The single most common mechanism was needle recapping (38.5%), followed by sudden patient movement during urgent intravenous catheter access insertions (28.4%). Worryingly, 52.3% of sustained injury events were never officially reported due to fear of stigma or long administrative delays. Logistic regression models indicated that running continuous shifts longer than 12 hours (OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.38–5.12, p = 0.003) significantly elevated puncture risks. Accessing safety-engineered medical devices and simplifying post-exposure administrative reporting protocols are urgent requirements to safeguard emergency personnel.

Keywords: Sharps Injuries; Percutaneous Exposure; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis; Emergency Nursing; Occupational Health; Needle Safety.

Manuscript Timeline: Received July 20, 2026; Revised September 04, 2026; Accepted September 20, 2026; Published September 30, 2026.

Citation: Ndlovu, S. M., & Malfoya, G. M. (2026). Workplace Exposure to Sharp Injuries and Prophylaxis Adherence Among Emergency Department Personnel. African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, 14(9), 225–234. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJNM/000157

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