Safety syringe

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A safety syringe is a syringe with a built-in safety mechanism to reduce the risk of needlestick injuries to healthcare workers and others. The needle on a safety syringe can be detachable or permanently attached. On some models, a sheath is placed over the needle, whereas in others the needle retracts into the barrel. Safety needles [1] serve the same functions as safety syringes, but the protective mechanism is a part of the needle rather than the syringe. Legislation requiring safety syringes or equivalents has been introduced in many nations since needlestick injuries and re-use prevention became the focus of governments and safety bodies.

Contents

In this model of safety syringe, the needle retracts into the barrel of the syringe after use. Sicherheitsspritze 010.JPG
In this model of safety syringe, the needle retracts into the barrel of the syringe after use.

Types

There are many types of safety syringes available on the market. [2] Auto Disable (AD) syringes are designed as a single use syringe, with an internal mechanism blocking the barrel once depressed so it cannot be depressed again. The other type of syringe with a re-use prevention feature is the breaking plunger syringe. An internal mechanism cracks the syringe when the plunger is fully depressed to prevent further use. These syringes are only effectively disabled with a full depression of the plunger; users can avoid activating the re-use prevention feature and re-use the syringe.

This syringe has a sliding needle guard Intradermal injection.jpg
This syringe has a sliding needle guard

The more effective safety syringes have reuse and needlestick prevention features. A sheath or hood slides over the needle after the injection is completed with a Needlestick Prevention Syringe, which also has a re-use prevention feature (either an auto disable mechanism or breaking plunger). Retractable syringes use either manual or spring-loaded retraction to withdraw the needle into the barrel of the syringe. Some brands of spring-loaded syringes can have a splatter effect, where blood and fluids are sprayed off the cannula from the force of the retraction. Manual retraction syringes are generally easier to depress because there is no resistance from a spring.

One model of safety syringe with deployable needle guard Needle safety demo.gif
One model of safety syringe with deployable needle guard

Alternatives

Traditional glass syringes can be re-used once disinfected. Plastic body syringes have become more popular in recent years because they are disposable. Unfortunately, improper disposal methods and re-use are responsible for transferring blood borne diseases.

Importance

Of the 55 cases documented by the CDC of (non-sex work) occupational transmission of HIV, 90% were from contaminated needles that pierced the skin. [3] The direct cost of needlestick injuries was calculated in a recent study to be between $539 and $672 million US dollars.[ clarification needed ] [4] That includes only lab tests, treatment, service and "other";[ clarification needed ] it does not take into account lost time and wages for employers and individuals.

Legislation

United States

Two lawyers, Mike Weiss and Paul Danzinger, were approached in 1998 by an inventor, Thomas Shaw, who was having trouble selling a safety syringe developed to protect health care workers from accidentally being infected by dirty needles. The problems were due to monopolistic actions of a major industry needle maker and hospital group purchasing organizations. The case was settled before trial for $150 million. [6] This was portrayed by the 2011 movie Puncture . [7] Shaw's attempts to get his retractable needle accepted by health care facilities were covered in a 2010 Washington Monthly article. [8]

Canada

Australia

Europe

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personal protective equipment</span> Equipment designed to help protect an individual from hazards

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment designed to protect the wearer's body from injury or infection. The hazards addressed by protective equipment include physical, electrical, heat, chemical, biohazards, and airborne particulate matter. Protective equipment may be worn for job-related occupational safety and health purposes, as well as for sports and other recreational activities. Protective clothing is applied to traditional categories of clothing, and protective gear applies to items such as pads, guards, shields, or masks, and others. PPE suits can be similar in appearance to a cleanroom suit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syringe</span> Medical injection device

A syringe is a simple reciprocating pump consisting of a plunger that fits tightly within a cylindrical tube called a barrel. The plunger can be linearly pulled and pushed along the inside of the tube, allowing the syringe to take in and expel liquid or gas through a discharge orifice at the front (open) end of the tube. The open end of the syringe may be fitted with a hypodermic needle, a nozzle or tubing to direct the flow into and out of the barrel. Syringes are frequently used in clinical medicine to administer injections, infuse intravenous therapy into the bloodstream, apply compounds such as glue or lubricant, and draw/measure liquids. There are also prefilled syringes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blood-borne disease</span> Medical condition

A blood-borne disease is a disease that can be spread through contamination by blood and other body fluids. Blood can contain pathogens of various types, chief among which are microorganisms, like bacteria and parasites, and non-living infectious agents such as viruses. Three blood-borne pathogens in particular, all viruses, are cited as of primary concern to health workers by the CDC-NIOSH: HIV, hepatitis B (HVB), & hepatitis C (HVC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Occupational injury</span> Bodily damage resulting from working

An occupational injury is bodily damage resulting from working. The most common organs involved are the spine, hands, the head, lungs, eyes, skeleton, and skin. Occupational injuries can result from exposure to occupational hazards, such as temperature, noise, insect or animal bites, blood-borne pathogens, aerosols, hazardous chemicals, radiation, and occupational burnout.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Injection (medicine)</span> Method of medication administration

An injection is the act of administering a liquid, especially a drug, into a person's body using a needle and a syringe. An injection is considered a form of parenteral drug administration; it does not involve absorption in the digestive tract. This allows the medication to be absorbed more rapidly and avoid the first pass effect. There are many types of injection, which are generally named after the body tissue the injection is administered into. This includes common injections such as subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous injections, as well as less common injections such as intraperitoneal, intraosseous, intracardiac, intraarticular, and intracavernous injections.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chemical hazard</span> Non-biological hazards of hazardous materials

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Needlestick injury</span> Accidental puncture of skin causing contamination

A needlestick injury is the penetration of the skin by a hypodermic needle or other sharp object that has been in contact with blood, tissue or other body fluids before the exposure. Even though the acute physiological effects of a needlestick injury are generally negligible, these injuries can lead to transmission of blood-borne diseases, placing those exposed at increased risk of infection from disease-causing pathogens, such as the hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In healthcare and laboratory settings globally, there are over 25 distinct types of blood-borne diseases that can potentially be transmitted through needlestick injuries to workers. In addition to needlestick injuries, transmission of these viruses can also occur as a result of contamination of the mucous membranes, such as those of the eyes, with blood or body fluids, but needlestick injuries make up more than 80% of all percutaneous exposure incidents in the United States. Various other occupations are also at increased risk of needlestick injury, including law enforcement, laborers, tattoo artists, food preparers, and agricultural workers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Needle remover</span> Medical device

A needle remover is a device used to physically remove a needle from a syringe. In developing countries, there is still a need for improvements in needle safety in hospital settings as most of the needle removal processes are done manually and under severe risk of hazard from needles puncturing skin risking infection. These countries cannot afford needles with individual safety devices attached, so needle-removers must be used to remove the needle from the syringe. This lowers possible pathogen spread by preventing the reuse of the syringes, reducing incidents of accidental needle-sticks, and facilitating syringe disposal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharps waste</span> Form of biomedical waste

Sharps waste is a form of biomedical waste composed of used "sharps", which includes any device or object used to puncture or lacerate the skin. Sharps waste is classified as biohazardous waste and must be carefully handled. Common medical materials treated as sharps waste are hypodermic needles, disposable scalpels and blades, contaminated glass and certain plastics, and guidewires used in surgery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drug injection</span> Method of introducing a drug

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Occupational hazards in dentistry are occupational hazards that are specifically associated with a dental care environment. Members of the dental team, including dentists, hygienists, dental nurses and radiographers, must ensure local protocols are followed to minimize risk.

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References

  1. "HMD Launches Single-Use Dispojekt Safety Needle to Prevent Injuries". Businesswireindia.com. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  2. "WHO | Safe syringes for injection safety". World Health Organization. 2010-11-30. Archived from the original on December 14, 2007. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  3. International Council of Nurses. "Health Care Worker Health and Safety: Preventing Needlestick Injury and Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens" (PDF). World Health Organization.
  4. Jagger, Janine (1998). "Healthcare Direct Cost of Follow-up for Percutaneous and Mucocutaneous Exposures to At-Risk Body Fluids: Data From Two Hospitals" (PDF). Advances in Exposure Prevention. 3 (3). International Healthcare Worker Safety Center.
  5. 106th Congress. "Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act". U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved 25 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. "Syringe Manufacturer Settles Claim of Market Manipulation". The New York Times. 2004-07-03. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  7. "Puncture (2011)". IMDb. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  8. Blake, Mariah (July–August 2010). "Dirty Medicine". Washington Monthly. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  9. "Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines 3rd Edition 2004 – Pathogen Regulation Directorate". Public Health Agency of Canada. 2011-02-18. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  10. "OHS Guidelines Part 6 Substance Specific Requirements" . Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  11. "OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE" (PDF). Government of Alberta.
  12. "The Workplace Safety and Health Amendment Act (Needles in Medical Workplaces)". 2005-06-09. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  13. "Labour Standards Information for the Restaurant and Foodservices Industry" (PDF). Saskatchewan Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety.
  14. "Occupational Health and Safety Act – O. Reg. 474/07". 2010-07-01. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  15. "Regulations – Safer Needles in Healthcare Workplaces" . Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  16. "Sharps Injuries – Prevention in the NSW Public Health System" (PDF). Department of Health, NSW.
  17. "OHS Reps @ Work : Infectious Diseases – Needlestick Injuries". 2008-02-25. Retrieved 2012-02-07.
  18. "OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES TO BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR PREVENTING HOLLOW-BORE NEEDLESTICK INJURIES" (PDF). Centre for Healthcare Related Infection Surveillance and Prevention.
  19. "COUNCIL DIRECTIVE implementing the Framework Agreement on prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector concluded by HOSPEEM and EPSU" (PDF). COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION.

• Washington Monthly, Jul/Aug 2010, "Dirty Medicine"