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 Welcome to the ISIPS Newsletter
June 4, 2010 
USA News

USA Health News

Man Charged With HIV Crime
A man was charged Tuesday with four counts of exposing others to HIV, with prosecutors alleging that the man slung blood and spit...

HIV-positive man accused of selling...infecting others
Prosecutors have charged a Lakewood man accused of knowingly exposing other men to the HIV virus while working as...

Bioterrorism charge dismissed for HIV man who bit neighbor
A Macomb County judge has dismissed a bioterrorism charge against an HIV-positive man who bit his neighbor in...

SOUTHERN NEVADA OUTBREAK: Las Vegas hepatitis cases spark CDC video on unsafe injections
A new training video for the nation's medical professionals, which was released Wednesday, was sparked largely by the hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas, according to a federal medical officer.

Global News

Man's Death Tied To 2002 Hepatitis Outbreak
A Nebraska widow said that a hepatitis C outbreak at a Fremont clinic in 2002 led to the recent death of her husband eight years later.

HIV patient delivers baby on roadside in Andhra
Dangerous since the women unknowingly were helping an HIV positive patient give birth and were not wearing any protective gear like handgloves.

Namibia: NGOs Oppose Namibia's Forced HIV Move
SOME Zambian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have petitioned the Namibian High Commission to Zambia against the forced sterilisation of HIV-positive...

Abortion Anesthetist Allegedly Infected over 40 Women with Hep C
Although accidental needle stick injuries sometimes cause it to spread, ... "Needle stick injuries are one method of possible transmission," he said.

Hepatitis C outbreak linked to Croydon Day Surgery anaesthetist
MORE than 40 abortion clinic patients have now been infected with hepatitis C, allegedly by the "abhorrent and appalling" actions of an anaesthetist.

Fears patients deliberately infected with hepatitis C
PATIENTS of a late-term abortion clinic in Victoria may have been deliberately infected with hepatitis C after a further 32 women tested...

HK reports 101 HIV cases in first quarter
Hong Kong reported 101 cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections in the first quarter of 2010, the Center for...

Kiwi women sought in Hepatitis C case
Health officials are on the hunt for New Zealand women who may have been infected with Hepatitis C at a private Australian clinic. Fifty-five Kiwi women are...

Avian Flu

Chemical compound fights the flu
Scientists from Hong Kong and Canada say they found a chemical compound that can fight off the seasonal H1N1 virus as well as the avian flu virus.

Swine Flu

Children respond well to swine flu vaccine
The first tests to be carried out on vaccines issued during the swine flu pandemic have revealed high immune response rates among young children,...

Medical News

The "Vaccine Shock" of the Year
For example, the pandemic H1N1 swine flu was a hybrid virus, a human-pig-bird hybrid virus. It is possible for animal viruses to recombine with human...

Pursuing a “cure” for HIV/AIDS – two distinct approaches
That's because some of our best scientists are working on two distinct approaches to finding a cure for HIV/AIDS, both of which are starting to gain...

Structure of immune molecule that counteracts HIV strains determined
"This study advances the overall goal of how to design an HIV vaccine," said Scripps Research Professor Ian Wilson, who led the team with Dennis Burton,...

West Nile

West Nile virus on the rise
West Nile virus is a potentially serious illness which is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. The virus can be spread to humans as well as other...

PM Bay Area Buzz: West Nile virus concern heats up again; Cow Palace raves may...
... Contra Costa County vector control workers released mosquito fish and bacteria that target mosquito larva into the murky water to combat West Nile virus...

Santa Clara County officials wary of West Nile danger this summer
Though no one in Santa Clara County was infected with West Nile virus last year, officials say there are signs the danger may be on the...

Mutant Gene Link to West Nile Virus in Horses
The same mutated gene that makes humans more susceptible to the potentially fatal West Nile virus is also responsible for the virus affecting horses,...


ETHIGUARD* Blunt Point Needles

Protect yourself and your patients—without compromising performance

Better protection from needlestick injuries
ETHIGUARD Blunt Point Needle is an innovative solution that helps protect you and your patients from needlestick injuries, providing you with a better needle option.

A solution to a costly problem

  • Over 384,000 healthcare workers in the US suffer needlestick injuries each year, putting them at risk for hepatitis, HIV, and other serious diseases2

  • The annual cost of needlestick injuries to hospitals is approximately $258 million
    — The follow-up costs for high-risk exposure needlestick injury is almost $3,000 even if no infection occurs

  • A 2007 New England Journal of Medicine study report found that 99% of surgical residents had at least one needlestick injury by their final year of training—53% involving high-risk patients

  • Four prospective randomized trials have demonstrated notable benefits from use of blunt suture needles

  • ETHIGUARD Blunt Point Needles and conventional taper point needles both have a 12:1 taper ratio

Choose protection without compromising performance
Decrease the incidence of injury

  • Blunt-point geometry allows for easy soft-tissue penetration

Minimize bleeding and tissue trauma

  • ETHIGUARD Blunt Point Needle does not cause any more additional bleeding or patient trauma than a conventional taper needle7

  • Its heat-treated, stainless steel alloy delivers optimal strength and ductility to resist bending and breaking

Use with ease

  • ETHIGUARD Blunt Point Needle is proven to be effective and user-friendly7

Increase precision

  • A ribbed and flattened body affords stability in the needle holder, for improved protection against slipping

"Though cost is often cited as a factor for not using safer devices, it is actually a savings when you consider the cost of treating the individual once a [needlestick] injury occurs.”

The value you need with the protection they deserve

 For more information click here.

In This Issue

Researchers Say People Waiting Too Long To Start HIV Treatment
Many people living with HIV in the United States and Canada are waiting too long to begin treatment for the disease,...

New weapon in fight against flu found
Swine flu, which is a strand of H1N1, was present in more than 14000 deaths worldwide following last year's outbreak, while 262 people were killed in a bird...

HIV by the Numbers
In the HIV world, we are often surrounded by statistics, and they can be so difficult to comprehend. To bring sense to these numbers, Dr. Basmati,...

Pregnant HIV women denied assitance at hospital...
She was shifted to the observation room once they realized that she was HIV positive and doctors were reluctant to attend her.

Don't take any chances with Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a serious liver infection that is caused by the Hepatitis C virus. Deemed a 'silent killer', people can live with the virus for years without...

Syringes reused at Children's clinic
At least 250 patients at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh received injections with syringes that were used on other patients, prompting state health authorities to investigate.

Hepatitis survivor: 'I was lucky'
It was the day before Valentine's Day in 2008 when Johnny Robertson received the most sickening letter of his life.

3 Namibian women with HIV say they were sterilized
Supporters of three HIV-positive women in Namibia who say they were sterilized without their consent held protests to support the...

Vietnam launches campaign to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission
Vietnam launched a campaign to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission in the country's southern Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday,...

OSHA Violations
...citations issued
Reconstruction Home & Health Care Dba Beechtree

Ithaca, NY 14850

$825

Failure to provide Hepatitis B vaccination within 10 working days of initial assignment to all employees.
Prime Care Nursing, Inc.

Prime Care Nursing, Inc.

$1,050

Failure to have a documented procedure for the evaluation of circumstances surrounding exposure incidents.

Exposure Control Plan not updated at least annually and to document new tasks, procedures

Failure to provide, at no cost to the employee, appropriate personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to, gloves, gowns, laboratory coats, face shields or masks and eye protection, and mouthpieces, resuscitation bags, pocket masks, or other ventilation devices.

Failure to ensure that all employees with occupational exposure participate in a training program which must be provided at no cost to the employee and during working hours.

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

Luminetx Corporation

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.

tip-top

Global Medi Products

Real Needlestick and
Blood Exposure Stories

On the ICU I work on I've encountered the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to clean-up time. One doc came in a little disturbed to began with, and after a central line placement, immediately de-gowned and walked out, leaving heapfuls of goodies (on the bedside tray, counter, under the sheet????). Then I've had some that actually came back to help, seemingly surprised when we acted so grateful.

And the ugly?
Some genius threw away a 10cc syringe (1/4 full with some clear fluid) with what looked to be a 19g needle on there in the trash. I discovered it en route to the dirty utility room when I felt two pokes on the back end of the calf. The following six hours as I awaited all my blood tests nearly made me rethink my profession choice.

Luckily, we knew the service that performed the procedure for that room...so they got a fun a little phone call.

*NOTE: the sharps is located underneath the sink. OK, GRANTED, you can't find it off the bat...but seriously, throw it the trash?? seriously...


Featured Safety Product


tip-top Safety Engineered Needle Technologies

tip-top was established to devise the technology necessary for a range of safety-engineered needlestick protection devices.

This ongoing long-term effort continues to deliver worthwhile intellectual property into our ever-expanding patent portfolio – which now comprises a collection of more than 12 core patent families extending to the USA, Japan, Europe, Canada, Australia and several other countries.

tip-top has a range of safety-engineered needles designs for luerslip or luerlok connection to any syringe. And importantly these safety needles provide fully-passive needlestick protection before, during and after an injection. Making intradermal, subcutaneous or intramuscular parenteral drug delivery safer and simpler.

tip-top has developed various safe needle handling accessories, together with standalone safety-engineered pen needle designs; to help make pen-injector usage safer and simpler, within the hospital or home environment.

tip-top has a number of safety-engineered solutions for pre-filled glass syringes having either staked needles or luerslip/luerlok connections, and in common with other tip-top designs, many of these devices utilise our proprietary non-metallic spring technology to reduce cost, and lessen the environmental impact of single use medical products.

By using the latest CAD/CAM technology, and our in-house toolmaking and plastic injection moulding machinery, we now have available for demonstration examples of our various devices.

Click here for more information.


The sharps disposal by mail system represents the first complete disposal system pioneered for simplified management of used needles, syringes and other small quantities of medical waste.  The sharps disposal by mail system is a government approved system comprised of a specially designed mailable sharps container, a post each prepaid return shipping box, and instructions in both English and Spanish.  These systems are available in 1 quart, 1 gallon, 2 gallon, 3 gallon and 18 gallon systems.

For more information click here

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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