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 Welcome to the ISIPS Newsletter
May 14, 2010 
USA News

USA Health News

Judge to rule if bite from HIV-positive man counts as bioterrorism
Allen, who is HIV-positive, was charged by the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office with unlawful possession or use of a harmful device under a 2004 Michigan...

Patient says hepatitis lawsuit just start of public safety battle
Henry Chanin on Monday discusses his battle with hepatitis C and his lawsuit against two drug companies. His students at The Meadows School...

Jury Awards Henderson Couple a Record $500 Million Award
On Friday, a jury returned a $500 million punitive damages verdict against two drug companies that made and sold vials of a sedative associated with a clinic-based hepatitis C outbreak in Las Vegas.

Little Rock police officer undergoes tests after HIV-positive man allegedly...
Little Rock police say a man who is HIV-positive spit blood at an officer who was trying to arrest him.

Glucose testing may have infected dozens
University of New Mexico Hospital is warning that dozens of people receiving glucose tests last month could have become infected with hepatitis B, C or HIV.

HIV/AIDS: All in the Family
While there have been many advances lately in prevention of AIDS/HIV, African Americans are facing daunting odds. In 2008, African Americans represented 17...

Global News

EU ministers adopt rules to prevent injuries to healthcare workers
Injuries caused by needles and other sharp instruments are one of the most common and serious risks to healthcare workers in Europe and represent a high...

Government looking to settle hepatitis B needle lawsuits
The government is moving toward a compromise to settle a series of lawsuits filed by people with hepatitis B who say they should have been warned about the dangers of sharing needles in group vaccinations, sources said Thursday.

HIV epidemic may be imminent in the Philippines
...needle sharing and a rise in casual...may unleash an HIV epidemic in the Philippines, according to a new study.

South Africa: Stories of Resilience in the Face of HIV and AIDS
These stories of resilience from four HIV-positive women in Makapanstat, in South Africa's North West province, show how individuals can live positively and...

Avian Flu

Egyptian girl contracts bird flu: State news
Some 23 Egyptians have died after contracting the bird flu virus. Most of those infected had come into contact with infected domestic birds in a country...

Swine Flu

Flu-infected soldiers to leave hospital after A (H1N1) scare
At the Dalin base, ten soldiers out of 17 tested positive for the swine flu virus, reports said. Local health workers visited the base to vaccinate new...

'Serious mistake' to dismiss swine flu, warn experts
Infectious disease experts on Tuesday warned health professionals that it would be a "serious mistake" to dismiss swine flu because of the relatively low...

Iowa Had 41 Confirmed Deaths From Swine Flu
A state health officials says Iowa had 41 confirmed deaths and 659 hospitalizations attributed to swine flu.

Medical News

HIV Treatment and Lifestyle Factors Influence Death Rates
Many deaths in people with HIV are now preventable—if people are able to not only control HIV, but also make lifestyle changes—according to a study...

West Nile

West Nile virus detected in S. Utah
Health officials in Washington County say the West Nile virus has been detected in a sample of mosquitoes. The Southwest Utah Public Health...

FACE-IT full face shields

FACE-IT shields provide OSHA level protection against splash of bodily fluids to the face for the medical, dental and emergency medical healthcare workers.  Non-medical shield uses are for non-impact protection such as keeping paint, dust, dirt and oil off your face and eye glasses. FACE-IT has a patented flat viewing area and a comfortable foam barrier which molds to the forehead for extra protection. 

Model 16000
Two models of a full face shield are available. 

Standard model 16000 features a patented flat viewing surface to minimize glare and distortion.

 

DRAPE Shield, model 18000
adds a fluid barrier fabric to bottom of shield to protect upper neck and chin area from splash under shield.

FACE-IT shields are packaged 50 to a dispenser box, 2 dispenser boxes to a carton (100 shields per carton).

Contact Onyx Medical for more details.

 

Fluid Barrier Fabric Drapes Under Shield Covering Chin

Fabric has Velcro-like Closure
Under Chin for Splash Protection

 LOW COST
1-800-333-5773

For more information click here

Allen Needle Triever

Help protect your staff from sharps injuries with the Allen Needle Triever. This suture needle retrieval system has a large magnetic surface to easily pick up any ferrous needles and sharps as small as .15 mm (.006") diameter.

Our unique design allows this magnetic sweeper to reach under the surgical table and other hard-to-reach places. The lightweight aluminum is easy to use, clean and store. The long handle, more than 3 feet, means you don’t need to bend over to find lost sharps.

For more information click here. 

 

 
In This Issue

More women in lawsuit over hepatitis C doctor
THE number of women participating in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against an anaesthetist who allegedly infected them with hepatitis C has soared and is...

Health workers risk needle-prick injuries
"Needle stick is a huge problem, especially in the wake of the huge patient ... "The towering occurrence of needle stick injuries in healthcare workers is...

Keeping Nurses Healthy to Help Patients
Adila recently suffered a needle stick while drawing blood from a patient. Needle stick injuries occur almost daily in hospitals, most resulting from a lack...

Clean hands can prevent the spread of disease
The WHO "Save lives: clean your hands" campaign invites healthcare workers, hospitals and organizations around the world to actively promote improved hand hygiene to reduce infections.

Bloody risk
A study at the city’s three major hospitals has revealed that an average of 2.8 needle stick injuries take place each day among its nursing and paramedical staff, exposing these primary care givers to diseases such as AIDs, Hepatitis and other bloodborne infections.

Australian nurses call to prevent needle stick injury
The Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) is extremely concerned with serious risks posed to nurses from needle stick injury in the country.

Fighting to eliminate hepatitis
Ma, a San Francisco Democratic assemblywoman, learned she had hepatitis B at age 22 while trying to donate blood. She began speaking out against the disease...

Higher HCC risk with increased insulin resistance in hepatitis C patients
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been reported to be associated with increased IR. Recent studies suggest that IR plays a crucial role in...

Officials go after unlicensed tattoo artists; 'scratchers' hurt credible...
“He got hepatitis C and was really sick. It's not fun. It's a lifelong disease that you battle. “We're trying to reach these people operating illegally,...

TOXIC WASTE ALERT
HEALTH fears have been raised over more than two tonnes of untreated medical waste, which is being mixed in with domestic rubbish on a daily basis.

Novel pouch could reduce mother-to-infant HIV infection
By using medications packaged just like fast-food ketchup, HIV-positive mothers in developing countries can more easily provide protection to...

Egregious OSHA PPE violators: Yikes! That’s expensive
OSHA’s tactic of hitting flagrant violators of personal protective equipment (PPE) standards with multiple citations received support from the court last week.

Time to weigh in on infectious diseases standard: OSHA wants to know
For all who hold strong opinions on whether or not OSHA should pursue developing an infectious diseases standard—by the look of the comments there were a lot of you, mainly opposed—the agency has opened the comment period for stakeholders.

Jury assigns liability to propofol makers
The manufacturers of the anesthetic porpofol misused in the 2008 hepatitis C outbreak are liable to the tune of more than $5 million in compensatory damages, reports the Las Vegas Sun, May 5.

Healthcare worker-related thoughts for hepatitis month
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month with May 19 as World Hepatitis Day, a time to focus on the prevention and treatment efforts for a disease that “causes 78% of primary liver cancer, the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the world,” according to the CDC.

Hand Hygiene Champions Award
AORN AND 3M ANNOUNCE PERIOPERATIVE HAND HYGIENE CHAMPIONS. Perioperative professionals honored for contributions to increase hand hygiene compliance...

Jury assigns liability to propofol makers
The manufacturers of the anesthetic porpofol misused in the 2008 hepatitis C outbreak are liable to the tune of more than $5 million in compensatory damages, reports the Las Vegas Sun, May 5.

An iPhone app that could improve hand hygiene compliance
On May 5, healthcare organizations around the world celebrated hand hygiene with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “5 moments for Hand Hygiene” campaign, part of the “Save Lives: Clean Your Hands,” initiative.

Frequent alcohol use linked to faster HIV disease progression
HIV disease tends to progress at a faster rate in infected individuals who consume two or more alcoholic drinks a day,...

OSHA Violations
...citations issued
Orthopedic Associates Of Meadville

Meadville, PA

$1,050

 Failure to have an exposure control planV

Failure to use engineering and work practice controls to eliminate or minimize employee exposure. Failure to use personal protective equipment
Joint And Muscle Medical Care

Charlotte, NC

$350

 Failure to have an exposure control plan

Hepatitis B vaccination shall be made available after the employee has received the training and within 10 working days of initial assignment to all employees who have occupational exposure.

Failure to have sharps safety containers appropriately available.

Employers shall ensure that the worksite is maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
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

I worked in a factory about 5 years ago. One of the women that was in charge of cleaning the restrooms got a needlestick when she was tying up a bag of garbage. Immediately after that, they placed a sharps container in every restroom. I guess that management never thought about the diabetics that were working there and their need for insulin shots. Luckily for the woman in housekeeping, everything turned out fine. I just hate that she had to go through the agony of worrying about HIV and Hepatitis. It's a shame that more places don't try to protect the public against things like this.

Featured Safety Product

The VeinViewer by Luminetx™ uses a combination of near-infrared light and patented technologies to image vascular structures, thus allowing physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals to clearly see accessible vasculature (or lack thereof) in real time, directly on the surface of the skin.

By imaging the vasculature, clinicians have the ability to visualize the location of the target area regardless of a patient's age, body type or skin tone. During prototype development, the device was recognized by Time Magazine as one of the most innovative medical inventions of 2004.

The VeinViewer incorporates DLP™ Technology from Texas Instruments.

But don't just take our word for it

" The VeinViewer technology has transformed our ability to deliver compassionate care. With VeinViewer, we have reduced not only the number of sticks, but also the levels of stress associated with multiple sticks for the practitioner, the patient and the patient's family."

Joel A. Saltzman, M.D.
Medical Director, Anesthesia
Le Bonheur Children's Hospital

“When we as healthcare practitioners talk in altruistic terms of patient satisfaction and nursing confidence, the benefits of the VeinViewer are impossible to quantify. However, the overall economic benefit to hospitals and clinics with regard to decreased time, lower material costs and a substantial reduction in the number of needles needed for venous access is very real and quantifiable.”

David M. Pennington, RN, BSN, MBA

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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