A new study reveals that a small percentage of healthcare professionals are reusing syringes and single-dose/single-use vials, according Premier healthcare alliance, which authored the peer-reviewed study.
The study, the results of which are published in the December issue of American Journal of Infection Control, revealed that of just under 5,500 surveyed U.S. healthcare professionals:
- six percent "sometimes or always" use single-dose/single-use vials for more than one patient;
- nearly 1 percent "sometimes or always" reuse a syringe but change the needle for use on a second patient; and
- fifteen percent reported reuse of a syringe to enter a multi-dose vial.
Such actions can lead to increases in outbreaks of hepatitis B and C viruses and bacterial infections.
"Reducing risk to patients from unsafe injection practices will require surveillance, oversight, enforcement, and provider and patient education," said Gina Pugliese, RN, MS, vice president of the Premier Safety Institute and co-author of the study, according to Premier. "Most important will be the safety culture of the organization to empower patients to speak up and healthcare professionals to take responsibility for preventing colleagues from engaging in unsafe practices."
Read the Premier healthcare alliance study on injection practices (pdf).
Learn more about Premier healthcare alliance.
Read other reports about infection control:
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- Practical Guidance on Strengthening California ASCs' Infection Control Programs