Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 334 HCWs at 9 workstations. Data were collected with a self-administered questionnaire that consisted of four parts: sociodemographic variables, work-related information, knowledge about needle stick and sharps injury and splash exposure, and information regarding previous OBBE incidents. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 22.0 software.
Findings: The prevalence of OBBE was 25.1% (95% confidence interval: 20.6-30.2), mostly due to percutaneous injuries, which were not reported to authorities. The highest proportions were among nurses and those working in the medical ward. Needle recapping practices were associated with almost a four-times higher risk of OBBE compared to no-recapping practices. HCWs who did not have any infection prevention training had a three-times higher risk of OBBE.
Conclusion: Factors associated with OBBE are unsafe work practices, inadequate infection prevention training, and lack of knowledge regarding blood-borne infection. There is a need for more training and increased awareness about the risks of OBBE to reduce unsafe practices.
CASE REPORT: We describe here an unusual case of leptospirosis complicated by haemolytic anaemia in a 70-year-old man with established kidney failure. He presented with an abrupt onset of shortness of breath, flushing and erythematous rash after completing haemodialysis. The patient's biochemistry test samples were however rejected twice as they were grossly haemolysed. The integrated auto-verification alert system implemented in the hospital's laboratory information system alerted the staff of the possibility of in vivo haemolysis.
DISCUSSION: The auto-verification alert system effectively distinguishes between in vitro and in vivo haemolysis and as such can be utilised as a diagnostic aid in patients with suspected intravascular haemolysis.
Case presentation: A 21-year-old single man presented with a sudden onset of acute urinary retention of one days' duration. Urethral catheterization was done at the Emergency Department and this drained 800 ml of urine. On further questioning, he claimed that he had had a painless nodule at the glans penis since childhood. The swelling increased in size in the past week causing discomfort. He denied any history of genitalia trauma or recent sexual intercourse. On examination, there was a bluish lesion over the ventral aspect of the glans penis measuring about 3 x 2 cm. The lesion was later excised and histopathology revealed a median raphe cyst of the penis.
Conclusion: A penile median raphe cyst is a rare lesion. Acute urinary retention caused by this lesion is very rare.