As these will be needles that have been stuck only into an insulin bottle & not a patient, the key risk- transmission of blood-borne infections- won't be there. However, injury to finger & potentially dangerous accidental infection of insulin exists. Also, it gives mixed message when what is needed is a single, simple ,never re-sheath' message
Surely there are safer ways of achieving the aim: supplying the patients with 'ready-for-use' injections. Assuming the nurse is drawing up from a multi-dose vial, why not have a single, dedicated drawing-up needle that stays in the bung whilst the filled syringe is detached. A fresh, still-sheathed needle can then be put on ready for patient use. Might mean an extra 1-2 needles used per patient, but they ain't that expensive!
If this in impractical, then the nurse needs to adopt a no-touch technique for re-sheathing.
Dr. Alan Swann, BM, AFOM
Director of Occupational Health
Occupational Health Service
Imperial College London
Southside building
South Kensington Campus
London
SW7 2AZ
Tel: +44 (20) 7594 9385
Fax: +44 (20) 7594 9407
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/spectrum/occhealth
-----Original Message-----
From: Glenn Raybone [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 20 October 2004 13:40
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re-sheathing needles
Hello all,
I've recently come across a practice whereby District Nurses draw up a
weeks supply of insulin in separate syringes for patients at home. Whilst
this is normal practice and supported by a policy my concern is that it
actually states that needles are re-sheathed before being placed in a
fridge. Re-sheathing is normally frowned upon, and this has only come to my
attention as a member of staff has sustained a needle-stick injury through
this practice.
What do others think? Does this happen in other areas?
Regards,
Glenn Raybone
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