Safety Huber Needle Removal
Huber needles are used to administer chemotherapy, antibiotics, and TPN through an implanted IV port.  These Needles may be in the port for many days at a time.   From 1993-1997, 55 injuries from Huber needles were reported.  Most of these needlestick injuries occur to nurses with other injuries occurring to housekeeping and laundry workers.  Most of these  Huber needle injuries occurred in patients' rooms.  Half of these injuries have occurred while deaccessing the port from the septum.  Rebound injuries are common with Huber needles because pulling with a great deal of force is required to overcome the resistance of the rubber septum.  Since the non-dominant hand is used to secure the implanted port during Huber needle withdrawal, it is often stuck on the rebound.  Safety Huber needle removal devices protect the healthcare worker and others from these inadvertent needlesticks.

 

ISIPS has been formed to reduce needlestick injuries by promoting safety-engineered safety products. The executive director does not believe that this type of a product constitutes a safety product. It is believed that healthcare workers should use safety huber needles and NOT try to use conventional Huber needles and then remove them with a Huber needle removal device. It is believed that this places the healthcare worker at great risk for a needlestick injury.