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 Welcome to the ISIPS Newsletter
April 29, 2011 
USA News

USA Health News

The good and bad news behind Minnesota's latest HIV statistics
The number of new HIV cases in Minnesota dropped last year by 11 percent, from 370 to 331, according to a new report released Tuesday by the Minnesota Department of Health. Good news? Yes.

Robber Who Threatens HIV Gets 8 to 20 Years
Authorities say that Cox threatened the female employees -- who worked alone -- with hypodermic needles that he said contained the HIV virus. “These two needles are HIV positive, open the register or I'll stick you,” Cox is reported as saying,...

Safety practices at VA medical facilities to get scrutiny
The VA notified 1812 patients, four of whom tested positive for hepatitis C or hepatitis B, a VA spokesman said. In Miami, more than 2600 veterans were identified as possibly being at risk of infection after the VA improperly cleaned equipment...

VA center's problems far from solved
Meanwhile, three veterans treated by the dentist have developed hepatitis, revealed through a program of free hepatitis and AIDS screenings for 535 of the dentist's former patients. A task force of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association has asked ...

Desai, partner face allegations of conspiracy, health care fraud in federal ...
Dr. Dipak Desai, the physician declared incompetent to stand trial on criminal charges stemming from the hepatitis C outbreak, faces new federal charges that could complicate the legal wrangling over his fate. Desai and his former chief...

Nevada physician, clinic executive hit with federal indictment in Las Vegas ...
The ailing former physician-owner of a Las Vegas endoscopy clinic at the center of a hepatitis outbreak in 2008 has been indicted on federal conspiracy and health care fraud charges. Dr. Dipak Desai and his former chief business...

American Academy Of HIV Medicine Hails Pennsylvania Senate's Passage Of HIV ...
The American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM), the nation's leading HIV care provider organization, praised the Pennsylvania State Senate for the passage of legislation sponsored by state Sen. Ted Erickson (R-26) that reduces barriers to routine HIV...

Fewer new HIV/AIDS cases in 2010, but 331 is still above 10-year trend
A total of 331 new HIV cases were reported in the state in 2010 compared with 370 cases in 2009, representing an 11 percent decline, according to a new report from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). However, health officials cautioned against...

Global News

Vietnam fails to prevent spread of HIV among workers
The HIV virus is spreading among workers in Vietnam because agencies are not pulling together to fight the disease, state media said Thursday. Health officials at a two-day conference organized by the government and the United Nations said ...

Hepatitis, HIV alert at Bowmanville body piercing studio
Use of non-sterile equipment could lead to transmission of diseases such as hepatitis and HIV, the department said. The health department has no evidence of transmission of infectious diseases but recommends anyone who had body piercing done at Sins...

Injection Drug Use Helps Drive HIV/AIDS in Africa
Injection drug use has long been a driving factor in the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. But now, there are signs it's a growing problem in sub-Saharan Africa, as well. The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International ...

Avian Flu

Egypt / Two new human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) reported in Egypt
Two new human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) and one related death have been reported on April 21st. Two new human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) and one related death have been reported on April 21st by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Indonesia, Vietnam find more H5N1 in poultry
Indonesia and Vietnam reported fresh H5N1 avian influenza outbreaks yesterday, as researchers who sampled birds in Bangladesh's live bird markets reported finding little of the virus, but a fair amount of H9N2 and other...

Rising infections in region could mean bird flu threat here
Bird flu could return to Thailand after the number of patients infected with avian influenza in neighbouring countries, including Vietnam and Cambodia, drastically increased over the past four months, health experts warn.

Expert warns of threat from deadly bird flu
A flu expert has warned that the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus strain could re-emerge in the country if stringent measures to prevent the spread of the disease are not taken. The warning was issued yesterday at a health conference entitled ''The Emerging...

Bird flu decades away from eradication
Eliminating the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus from poultry in the six countries where it remains endemic will take 10 or more years, according to a new report from the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Swine Flu

Caribbean anticipates swine flu
The Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) recommended countries of the region to reactivate their National Preparedness Plans in anticipation of another outbreak of the H1N1 Virus, popularly known as swine flu. However, Jamaica's health ministry said ...

Region warned of H1N1 threat
Trinidad-based Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) has warned of the possibility of an outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1), better known as swine flu. PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Wednesday April 27, 2011 – The Trinidad-based Caribbean Epidemiology Centre...

This Devastating Mistake Can Wreck Your Immune System...
Last year, Sweden and Finland sounded the alarm as a disproportionate number of youths suddenly developed narcolepsy after being vaccinated with the H1N1 swine flu vaccine. Other European countries, such as France, Germany and Norway, also reported...

Medical News

Severity of Hepatitis C and HIV Co-Infection in Mothers Contribute to HCV ...
New research shows that high maternal viral load and co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are the only risk factors associated with vertical transmission of the hepatitis C virus (HCV-VT).

FDA panel backs experimental Merck hepatitis drug
The first new drug to treat hepatitis C in over 20 years moved one step closer to approval Wednesday when a panel of government experts endorsed Merck's boceprevir as an effective treatment for the virus. The Food and Drug Administration's panel of ...

Washington Watch: Stem Cell Research Gets Boost
And in a potential victory for hepatitis C patients, an FDA panel unanimously endorsed two new hepatitis C drugs, and people are already calling the new options "game changing" even before the FDA approves them. A federal appeals court on Friday sided...

West Nile

Improperly maintained rain barrels can breed mosquitoes
Mosquitoes can carry the West Nile Virus, which has killed 99 Illinois residents since 2002 — 67 in 2002 alone, Reato said. “Wet weather like we are having breeds mosquitoes, although those carrying the virus typically need hot, dry conditions later...

Virus kills crow, raising concerns about West Nile
After one of the rainiest winters in years, West Nile virus has made an early appearance in Santa Clara County in 2011, with confirmation coming Friday that a crow has become the first casualty of the disease.

In This Issue

OSHA Inspecting ASC Sharps Safety Programs in 4 States
"Needlestick and other sharps-related injuries that expose workers to bloodborne pathogens continue to be an important public health concern," says Cindy...

GPO lawsuit gets the Hollywood treatment
... a lawyer and recovering drug addict who gets involved in the case after learning of a nurse who contracted AIDS from a needlestick injury.

HIV Infection Linked to Heart Failure Risk
HIV infection is a risk factor for heart failure (HF), with ongoing viral replication associated with higher risk, according to the results of a population-based, retrospective study reported in the April 25 issue of the Archives of...

HIV-Positive Inmate Accused Of Biting Jailer
An HIV positive inmate bit a detention officer at the Sequoyah County Detention Center earlier this month, according to an incident report from the Sequoyah County Sheriff's Office. On April 11, John Stephen MacMillan, 56, of Sallisaw was being ...

Tasting metal: The Johnson & Johnson patent
An inevitability in the medical profession is a needle-stick injury. I stuck myself while drawing bloods from an HIV-infected newborn and was on the new...

Hand Sanitizer: Good or Evil?
This “search and destroy” style germ assault became truly common place with the recent rash of Swine Flu-apolooza, 2009-2010. The prevalence of hand sanitizer increased in this period with enough ferocity to make one contemplate the conspiratorial...

BYU researchers take look at how HIV adapts
A set of twins, a failed vaccine and a protein "stop sign" have led three research teams conducting different studies at BYU to increased understanding of how HIV changes and produces more virus.

Expert says more HIV testing is needed
There is a significant amount of misinformation when it comes to HIV and AIDS, and this may make some young people less likely to seek HIV testing, some experts say. Testing is widely considered to be one of the most important tools in combating the...

OSHA Violations
...citations issued
Seneca Eye Surgeons, Inc.

Warren, PA

$300

 Failure to use engineering and work practice controls to eliminate or minimize employee exposure. Failure to use personal protective equipment

Failure to have an exposure control plan
Carolina Care Center Of Cherryville, Inc.

Cherryville, NC

 		 The employer shall ensure that all medical evaluations and procedures including the hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series and post-exposure evaluation and follow-up shall be provided according to recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service current at the time these evaluations and procedures take place.

The employer shall establish and maintain a sharps injury log for the recording of percutaneous injuries from contaminated sharps.

ISIPS Corporate Members

Please click on any ISIPS member below to view their sharps safety products!

Amgen

Covidien

B. Braun Medical, Inc.

Becton Dickinson

Inviro Medical Devices, Inc.

Greiner Bio-One GmbH

Immunization Branch-California Dept. of Health Services

Smiths Medical

Retractable Technologies Inc.

Terumo Medical Corporation

ANFIM - Association of Needle-free Injection Mfrs

Angiodynamics

Medi-Dose, Inc. - EPS, Inc.

International Association of EMTs and Paramedics

ITL Corporation

Bemis Manufacturing Company

Maximus Medical

Qlicksmart Pty Ltd

Milestone Scientific

Baxa Corporation

LifeChoice Donor Services

3M

Canadian Intravenous Nurses Association (CINA)

Sarstedt

Myco Medical

Health Care Logistics, Inc.

Center for Phlebotomy Education, Inc.

Managing Infection Control Magazine

The Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals

Kawasumi Laboratories America

Starr Systems, LLC

Owen Mumford

West Pharmaceutical Services

Christie Medical Holdings, Inc.

Sandel Medical Industries

Infusive Technologies, LLC

Jai Surgicals Ltd.

Onyx Medical

Allen Medical Systems

AngioTech

DC Surgical Solutions

Bard Access Systems

Access Scientific

Sanofi-AVentis

Navilyst

Purple Surgical International, Ltd.

Cory Bros Ltd.

Advanced Medical Innovations

Kinamed

Unilife

Sharpsfree

Peak Surgical

ICU Medical

Safety Lady LLC

Sharps Compliance, Inc.

Ethicon, Inc.

Advantage Medical Devices

tip-top

Global Medi Products

MediPurpose

Joey Medical

Real Needlestick and
Blood Exposure Stories

The accident happened less than a year after the unnamed woman had qualified. She pricked herself on a needle that had  been left on a drugs trolley while working as a junior house officer at Charing Cross Hospital, central London. Although she did not develop an infection, she went on sick leave two years  later and has not worked since. "After the incident I kept worrying about what I could have  caught," she told the British Medical Association's News Review magazine. "I began to avoid high-risk patients. I hid in the loo so someone else would deal with them. I avoided stitching wounds and pretended blood tests I had never taken  had got lost. I could not trust my colleagues to dispose of their sharps safely."  She said she struggled for two years to cope with growing  anxieties about sharp instruments, blood and Aids. She went sick in October 1994.

Featured Safety Product

Joey Medical

Cuts and Clamps the Umbilical Cord
With an emphasis on safety and ease of use, the Joey Spray Guard is a delivery system that cuts and clamps both the maternal and infant sides of the umbilical cord and leaves the cute Joey Clamp on the infant.

Up to 10x faster than conventional methods
The Joey's efficient design and one handed use have been shown to improve delivery times by as much as 10x. This performance edge becomes more pronounced in multiple births where efficiency is paramount to the safe delivery of each infant. As can be seen on the Discovery Health Channel footage in the Joey Short Overview video, the Hedricks' sextuplets were delivered in only two and a half minutes using the Joey System.

Reduces the Spray
The Joey Spray Guard provides a concurrent clamping and cutting action that shields the caregiver from blood spray.  This advanced, ergonomically designed product will change the face of delivery.

The Package
The package includes the Joey Clamp (the baby-side clamp), an umbilical cord cutter incorporating a maternal clamp, an Opening Tool and Instructions for Use.

The Joey Spray Guard is ergonomically designed for one-handed use.  Its double latching system ensures complete cut and closure of the device.  Once fully latched, simply pressing outward on Joey’s ears easily ejects the Joey Clamp, the only piece which stays with the baby.

Safety
The current controls in place to reduce blood exposure in the labor and delivery environment consist of goggles, masks, drapes and gowns.  While these controls are effective to an extent they are by design reactive not proactive.  The Joey Spray Guard is a proactive device that may greatly reduce blood exposures in the labor and delivery environment through its unique design, demonstrated below: 
 

Cord Blood
For those physicians that draw cord blood samples with a needle and syringe the Joey Spray Guard may help prevent needle sticks.  After the cord is severed the product housing side of the device remains on the placenta side of the cord.  The housing acts as a handle for the physician to safely draw cord blood.

Ease of Use
The Joey Spray Guard was ergonomically designed to be operated with one hand providing maximum control and maneuverability during the procedure.

The Joey Spray Guard clamps and cuts in one simple motion not three separate steps.  The device clamps both the maternal and infant sides of the cord.

The Joey Spray Guard reduces the need for additional assistance.

 

Colors!
Color provides the caregiver the ability 
to identify the infants in multiple birth scenarios.  With the Joey Spray Guard 
in color it is easy to identify not only the infants but also their umbilical cords after cord severance.  This is important because when cord blood and cord gases are taken the caregiver has the ability to match the unique cord with the correct infant.

Multiple colors are generally used for multiple births and are available by special order in larger quantities.

 

Click here for more information.
ISIPS Articles

Managing Infection Control articles written by Ron Stoker

2009

December 2009- Advances in Insulin Syringes  - New Passive Insulin Syringe protects from Needlestick Injury

December 2009- Making a Difference in Sharps Safety - 2009 International Sharps Injury Prevention Awards

November 2009- Facing the Challenges of  CR-BSI's - Evaluate, Plan  an Implement Decisions to reduce the rate of catheter-related bloodstream infections.

October 2009- Preventing Injuries from Glass Ampoule Shards-Advances in glass ampoule breakers

August 2009-What's New in Clinical Safety Education-New computer-based training can energize and captivate your staff

August 2009- Advances in Electrosurgery-Safety and economic benefits for patients, surgeons and hospitals

May 2009 - Advances in Needleless Connectors-Technologies assist in Prevention of Bloodstream Infections

April 2009 - Safety Enhancements for Blood Culture Processing-Protecting Staff From Harm

April 2009 - Neuropathy Testing - One of the Challenges of Diabetes

April 2009 - Where to Find Safety Products - Part Four

March 2009 - Accelerated Seldinger Technique - A faster, safer method for diagnostic and interventional procedures

March 2009 - Sharps Safety Matters - Where to find Safety Products - Part Three

February 2009 - Advances in Internal Bone Fixation - Sharps Safety for Orthopedic Surgeons

February 2009 - Sharps Safety Matters! - Where to find Safety Products Part 2

January 2009-  Advances in Blood Drawing Using Evacuated Tubes - Improving Patient and Clinician Safety

January 2009 - Sharps Safety Matters! - Where to find Safety Products Part I

2008

December 2008 - 2008 International Sharps Injury Prevention Awards

December 2008 - Zero Sharps Injuries - A Goal we can live with! Reducing Exposures in the Operating Room

November 2008 - Sharps Injuries - just part of the job, right?

October 2008 - Turning Point - New Safety Scalpel Handle System provides safety features and familiar feel

October 2008 - Eye Can See Clearly Now - the Positive use of face shields as PPE

September 2008 - Safety Scalpels - State of the Market Report

August 2008 Revolutionary Designs - New passive, self-sheathing safety syringe

August, 2008 - New Technology Replaces Multiple Syringes-Prevent contamination of IV lines and associated infections.

June 2008 - One Less Problem - Safe Practices When Administering IV Therapy

May 2008 - Scalpel Safety - Protecting patients and clinicians

May 2008 - Innovation in Vascular Access - Accidental needlestick injuries decreased via the utilization of the VeinViewer

April 2008 - Working in Harms Way - Understanding Sharps Safety Compliance

April 2008 - PPE Practices - Use of Personal Protective Equipment in Satellite Locations

March 2008  - Sharps Safety Matters - Where to find safety products? Part 2 of our annual sharps safety product review.

March 2008 - Simply Safe- Providing safety for the needle that saves lives

February 2008 - Sharps Safety Matters - Where to find safety products? Part 1 of our annual sharps safety product review.

2007

December 2007 - Spreading the Word for Safer Sharps- 2007 International Sharps Injury Prevention Awards

November 2007 GET THE POINT? Laparoscopic surgery-protecting healthcare workers from sharps injuries due to trocars

November 2007 - A Fortune to Share -Changing attitudes toward sharps safety.

October 2007-New sheriff in town-common and costly doctors' office blood-borne pathogen standard violations.

September 2007 Advances in Safety in Cardiology
Reducing the potential of bloodborne pathogen exposure for healthcare workers.

September 2007 Safety Doesn’t Just Happen
Staff safety—is there a culture of safety at your facility?

August 2007 - Innovative Syringe Management System -For home users—and some healthcare workers— there’s an exciting development in sharps safety

June 2007 - OSHA’s Most Cited Hospital Violations - Strategies for Creating a Safe Workplace

June 2007 - Safety in the Hospital Pharmacy-Prevent Staff Injury and Exposure to Toxic Materials with Safety Devices

May 2007 - OR Safety - Improvements in Sharps Safety in the Operating Room

May 2007- Safety Product Review - Use Safety Products to Improve Staff and Patient Safety.

April 2007- Needlestick Safety-Not just a U.S. problem.

Feb 2007 A Change Of Heart - Set Goals To Improve Your Teams Safety

Jan 2007 Stuck at Work - Use Safety Blood Draw Products To Avoid Needlestick Injuries

2006

December 2006 - Cutting the Cord  -  cutting, clamping, and obtaining blood samples from the umbilical cord

November 2006  - Don’t You Have Enough to Worry About Already? Single-Use vs. Reusable Sharps Disposal Containers

September 2006 -Evaluating Safety Products - Decision Making in the Selection of Safety Products

August 2006 -Safety Peripheral IV Catheters - State of the market report

June 2006 BESIDE THE POINT: Safety Huber Needles 2006 - State of the Market Report

May 2006 - Zero Needlesticks— A Goal We Can Live With! Current OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Citations

April 2006 - A Change of Heart - Set Goals to Change Your Team's Sharps Safety

February 2006 - How Can You Tell If Your OSHA inspection is going poorly?  Part II

January 2006 - How You Can Tell If Your OSHA Inspection Is Going Poorly? Preparing for an OSHA Inspection - Part I

January 2006 Sharps Injury Prevention Resource Guide 

Additional Articles

Anatomy of Needlestick Injury; Ron Stoker, Business Briefing: Global Healthcare- Advanced Medical Technologies 2004- Infection Control and Epidemiology

Needlestick Injury Prevention, Ron Stoker, Business Briefing: Global Healthcare 2003

Specially designed syringes maximize flue vaccine supply - Syringes reduce costs and and increase healthcare worker safety and patient comfort

Evaluation of The BD IntegraTM 3ml Syringe with Retracting BD PrecisionGlide™ Needle at Texas Children’s Hospital and Test-Med

Safety Wound Closure Presentation
Sharps Safety - Gaps and successes of safety device market conversion  By Amber Hogan
Technology and the engineering of safety devices has increased since the promulgation of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (BPS) (29 CFR 1910.1030) in 1991. As a result, OSHA revised its enforcement procedures in 1999 (CPL 02-02-069) to include guidance for its compliance safety and health officers to begin citing health care employers for failure to use safety devices where their use is feasible and effective.

Not Just painful, Deadly! Patients aren't the only ones scared of Needles  
Future Healthcare, Summer 2006 p 121-3

Links
Compendium of Infection Control Technologies

Digital Edition

The Compendium of Infection Control Technologies - Digital Edition is now available.
The digital edition comes on a CD that is readable from any computer and contains a PDF version of the Compendium with over 200 devices highlighted with a Device Evaluation Form designed for each.

 It also includes:

  • Over 50 articles written on sharps safety products that have been published in Managing Infection Control magazine.

  • All significant OSHA Interpretation Letters since the passage of the revised OSHA

  • Bloodborne Pathogen Standard.

  • OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard

  • Enforcement Procedures for the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard

  • Most frequently asked questions about the Standard

  • NIOSH Needlestick Alert

  • CDC Workbook on Designing a Sharps Injury Prevention Program

  • Model Exposure Control Plan

  • Hepatitis Vaccination Declination Form

  • Most Comprehensive List of Safety Products

  • And More...

The Compendium of Infection Control Technologies is only $89.95.  It will save you literally hundreds of hours in searching for safety products.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE COMPENDIUM!
 

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