| Many studies have shown that bloodborne pathogens – including __, and other life-threatening bacterial infections – have spread due to unsafe injection practices. | 1 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
2 Hepatitis B (HBV)
3 Hepatitis C (HCV) |
| The most common reason for an unsafe injection is the __ | 1) re-use of injection equipment.
-The same syringe and/or needle are used for more than one patient.
-The same syringe and/or needle are used to withdraw medication multiple times from a medication container (e.g., vial, IV bags, pen injector cartridges).
-The same syringe is used with a new needle. |
| Unsafe Injection Practices and Disease Transmission | 1 new needle and syringe are used to draw medication.
2 When the needle is used on an HCV-infected patient, backflow from the injection contaminates the syringe. Changing the needle does not prevent contamination of the syringe.
3 When re-used to obtain medication, the contaminated syringe can contaminate the medication vial.
4 If the contaminated vial is used for other patients, they can become infected with HCV.
(Although this example uses HCV, these same principles apply to other bloodborne pathogens.) |
| During medication preparation, there are MULTIPLE STEPS THAT CAN BE PRONE TO ERROR or CAUSE CONTAMINATION OF THE VIAL OR SYRINGE.
Such examples include: | 1 medication TRAY OR CART/TROLLEY have MORE THAN ONE INJECTION for different patients;
2 health care worker PICK UP WRONG SYRINGE OR MEDICATION VIAL for a patient if it is mislabeled or not labelled at all;
3 if injections NOT PREPARED WITH GOOD STERILE TECHNIQUE (for example they can become contaminated from a dirty environment, like the medication tray);
4 COTTON BALLS used for disinfecting should not be PRESOAKED; nor should presoaked
cotton balls or swabs be stored in containers. |
| Safe injection practices: Equipment
Before using the equipment, always inspect the packaging.
Discard it if you find that the packaging has been compromised in any way.
Check for __ | punctures, tears, or moisture,
expiration date as well. |
| 7 steps to safe injection | 1 A clean workspace
2 Hand Hygiene
3 Sterile, safety-engineered syringe
4 Sterile medication vial and diluent
5 Disinfecting Skin
6 Appropriate sharps disposal
7 Appropriate waste management |
