New Products to Help Prevent Needlestick Injury
The Safety of Health Care Workers is an Ever-Present Concern
Jul 8, 2009
The medical profession has its rewards and pitfalls. While those in the profession are striving to do their best for patients, they are also being wary of the dangers involved such as accidentally getting stuck with a needle.
How Common Are Needlestick Injuries?
According to the Centers For Disease Prevention And Control, there are approximately one million health care worker needlesticks reported annually in the United States. As many as 4 million of these go unreported. The consequences of needlesticks are many. Infections such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV among others are spread through needlesticks. According to the American Hospital Association, one case of a serious blood-borne pathogen can add up to $1 million or more.. This involves follow up, lost time and disability. Follow up alone can cost up to $3500 per injury.
The Needlestick Safety And Prevention Act
In 1992, the Federal Food And Drug Administration recommended that health care facilities use needleless systems. But only a small percentage were actually doing so. In 2000, Congress passed the Needlestick Safety And Prevention Act (Public law 106-430) which the president Bill Clinton signed. According to the American Nurses Association, the bill has the following provisions for health care workers:
- Use of safer devices such as needleless systems and sheathing needles
- Front line health care workers are to evaluate and select which ones they want and to have proper training
- Have a written exposure control plan that is to be updated annually
- Other measures such as post-exposure follow up, making the Hepatitis B vaccine available, decontaminate work surfaces, and being provided with equipment such as gloves, gowns, masks and face shields.
Medpro Safety Products
Several different products have been formulated to address this safety issue, but most of them required a safety spring to be activated after use. There was still that possibility of getting stuck. MedPro Safety Products, in Lexington Kentucky, is studying and producing new products that will change that. They wanted to build a better product.
"Our byline is providing safety to the health care worker. We take that very seriously", says Walter Weller, COO for MedPro. The safety feature automatically deploys through passive technology. Two products are being developed in "skin touch" and "tube touch" models.
The Vacuette Premium Safety Needle And The Winged Safety Needle Set
In the "tube touch" device the safety system is deployed first thing. As the needle is withdrawn from the arm the safety feature slides down toward the patient's arm and locks into place. This means that the contaminated needle is never exposed. The safety is already locked in place as the needle is removed from the arm. With the "skin touch" device, the safety is engaged when it touches the patient's skin as the needle is going into the patient. It is virtually impossible for exposure to occur. The winged collection set, also called a "butterfly" due to the shape of the handle, is a much smaller needle. It is mainly used for smaller veins as may be found in the elderly or children. When the user takes hold of the wings, the safety shield is automatically deployed first thing.
"These new products are designed to reduce needlestick injuries, be safer and easier to use. Our system does not interfere with your venous access and blood draw protocol", says Weller. There will be minimal instruction for use.
Availability
The "tube touch" and "skin touch" devices are projected to be available this year. The projected availability of the winged device will be 2010. Other safety products in the works are fillable and pre-filled syringes for injection. Their safety system will deploy when the plunger is pushed forward to initiate the injection.
