The Cost of Needlestick Injuries

The precise cost of needlestick injuries is difficult to quantify because it can include the inestimable pain and suffering of the injured healthcare worker. The worker’s emotional trauma, as well as the impact on family and friends can be devastating. In the case of Hepatitis C, a silent epidemic that can lead to liver failure, many healthcare workers are unaware they have the infection and as many as 85 percent can become chronic carriers.¹

According to the American Hospital Association, one case of serious infection by bloodborne pathogens can add up to $1 million or more in expenses for testing, lost work time and disability payments.² Even when no infection occurs, the cost to institutions is estimated to be more than $3,000 per injury.³ These estimates are in sharp contrast to the cost of safety syringes, which average 15 to 20 cents more than traditional syringes.