ISIPS Newsletter October 30, 2009

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Welcome to the ISIPS Newsletter	November 27, 2009

USA News

USA Health News

HIV/AIDS Commitments to Women Often Unmet
HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death and disease for women of reproductive age, according to health officials. A new report says much needs to be done to...

Number of...hepatitis cases up
According to the Public Health Department, 58 cases of chlamydia and 338 cases of hepatitis C have been diagnosed in Tuolumne County through September of...

Why...cuts HIV risk
Washington: Reduces the risk of HIV infection in men, but this link cannot be explained by a reduction in sores from conditions such as herpes,...

Ignoring prisoners' health imperils community
Another 38500 had AIDS, and an additional 155000 were infected with hepatitis B while another 1.3 million to 1.4 million were infected with hepatitis C. In...

Global News

Patients to be offered HIV tests
Nearly 100 patients are to be contacted by NHS bosses after being treated some years ago by a healthcare worker who has since been diagnosed with HIV.

UN Says HIV/AIDS Cases Falling
The UN's 2009 AIDS update says the number of new HIV infections has been reduced by 17 percent over the past eight years. In East Asia the numbers have gone...

United Nations: HIV outbreak peaked in 1996
Last year, HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 72 percent of all 2.7 million new HIV cases worldwide. Daniel Halperin, an AIDS expert at...

Kenya has one of the highest HIV/Aids rates in the world
Between 7% and 8.5% of the adult population suffers from HIV/Aids. One reason that the figure is not more precise is because the vast majority of Kenyans...

Avian Flu

WHO warns of resurgence of avian flu virus
... the world since April was a new strain that resulted from "reassortment" or combination of the avian, swine and human strains of flu in pigs in Mexico

US slow to build new flu defenses
If the next pandemic is caused by a virus that kills birds, like the H5N1 avian flu virus that emerged in 1997 in Hong Kong and reemerged in 2003,...

“Most Urgent US Health Problem” Still Access to Healthcare
Several previous health scares -- such as the bird flu in 2005 and bioterrorism in 2001 -- resulted in those specific issues' appearing prominently one year...

Health commissioner answers readers' questions on H1N1
There are hundreds of flu viruses and most affect animals other than humans, hence swine flu, bird flu, etc. H1N1 was labeled swine flu initially because it...

Swine Flu

Nigeria Records First Swine Flu Death in Saudi Arabia
A Nigerian pilgrim has died of swine flu in Saudi Arabia, according to Saudi health authorities. They say the pilgrim, a woman, was not vaccinated against...

H1N1 Update: Swine Flu mutation found in Norway
The World Health Organization has announced that three H1N1 swine flu viruses have mutated in Norway. This is an alarming discovery that has propelled the...

Michigan: Flu killed 54 in state since April
when swine flu began gaining steam. The Michigan Community Health Department said today that 26868 flu cases were reported in the state from Nov.

Maine has seventh swine flu death
Two more deaths have been linked to swine flu in Maine, bringing the total to seven since August. State health officials said Monday...

Swine flu: doctors blast anti-vaccination sceptics
A leading association of clinicians on Monday accused an "anti-vaccination movement" of breeding suspicion about the (A)H1N1 swine flu vaccine in...

Medical News

Study: Drug-Resistant MRSA Cases Rise 90 Percent in Past Decade
Cases of a drug-resistant bacterial infection known as MRSA have risen by 90 percent since 1999, and they are increasingly being acquired outside hospitals, researchers reported on Tuesday.

New Report Shows 97 Medicines and Vaccines Currently in Development for HIV/AIDS
"We are greatly encouraged by these critically important medicines and vaccines in development to treat and prevent HIV infection," says PhRMA President and...

High HLA Gene Expression May Slow AIDS Progression Genotyping study shows HIV ...
High HLA-C expression on cell surfaces in individuals infected with HIV appears to slow progression to full-blown AIDS, while better...

West Nile

West Nile virus season ends
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) declared the 2009 West Nile virus season, the most active on record,...

A new product can eliminate "wire stick" injuries to clinicians. The SuperCable Iso-Elastic Cerclage, is manufactured by Kinamed Inc. (Camarillo, CA, USA) and has been used in several thousand procedures worldwide since being introduced in 2003. This elastomeric polymer cable consists of a nylon core encased in a jacket of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) braided fibers.

This combination of materials results in a flexible, soft cable that exhibits extremely high fatigue strength. Fatigue failure is primary mode of failure of metallic cerclage wires and cables.

The SuperCable system cables can be re-tensioned effectively when multiple cables are applied. This reduces the need to cut off and discard metal cables that have become loose after additional cables have been applied and tensioned. Over time, this feature will reduce the total number of cables required for a given procedure.

Post operative x-ray of four SuperCables wrapped around an allograft strut and hip prosthesis in revision hip replacement surgery. Note the SuperCables are radiolucent except for their locking clasp.

The SuperCable has fatigue strength superior to both metal wire and cables thereby reducing complications due to breakage. It also eliminates cable-generated metal particle debris that has been shown to greatly increase wear in adjacent total joints.

The cables are easy and quick to manipulate within the wound. Since the product is made of a polymer it contains no metal cable that can contact metallic implants and has no sharp ends to irritate patient tissue or cut surgeon's gloves.

For more information on this safety product click here.

In This Issue

Happy Thanksgiving!

This week's edition of the ISIPS Newsletter is early so editor can take time off for the USA Thanksgiving Holiday.

Have a great holiday and let's be thankful for all the blessings that we each enjoy. I personally have so much to be thankful for including the opportunity of working with clinicians around the world. I am appreciative of the medical device manufacturers that sponsor this website. Without them we would not be able to share all of these safety tips! Thank you! Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving holiday! - the editor

On Friday, November 20, OSHA posted a compliance directive for inspections concerning workplace exposures to potential or confirmed H1N1 swine flu patients.

Whistle-blowing got tech fired, suit says
A former surgical technician at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center claims she was wrongly fired for blowing the whistle about unsanitary conditions in the hospital's operating rooms.

Watch that needle, doc
Eighteen out of every 1,000 doctors are victims of needlestick injuries which hold a risk of life-threatening virus infections. The ratio is much lower for nurses at 4.6 per 1,000.

Needle Sticks Lead To Huge Fine
Needlestick in Dental Office Leads to “Willful” Charge – $76,500 in Fines. Have You Done Your OSHA Audit, Documentation, Annual Mandated Training, Put in Place A Post Exposure Protocol Including Facility and Counseling, Medical Emergency Protocols and Drills?

Needle Picks and Nurse Fears
I've been a nurse for over 25 years. While I've picked myself occasionally with clean needles, ones that I was preparing to use (and then tossed), up until now I could say I'd never had a serious needle stick. Unfortunately, I can't make that claim any longer.

Needle Stick Injury – Who Bears the Brunt?
A hospital with AIDS patients became restless and tried to remove the intravenous (IV) catheters in his arm. During the battle was an intravenous infusion given line.

Sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector: The European Commission publishes a Council Directive proposal
Council Directive on the implementation of a Framework Agreement on the prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector

Worker's fear after needle injury
A recycling collector is waiting to learn if he has been infected by a blood-borne illness after pricking his finger on a syringe in a bag.

Hunt on for party tattoo artist
Public health officials are continuing to search for a tattoo artist believed to have caused infections in several teenagers at a house party.

Living with HIV / AIDS
Most people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) don't even know they're infected.

Women's health: Combating a common virus
Hepatitis B is a common infection in the US—more than 46000 new infections were reported in 2006. Some people with a hepatitis infection will not have any...

Scientists Find Why Hepatitis B Hits Men Harder Than Women
The long-standing mystery of why the hepatitis B virus (HBV) hits men harder than women may be explained by a new discovery. The virus targets men more...

Straight from the Hear:Tattooing, but at what cost?
Indeed, in 1961, an outbreak of hepatitis B in New York City was linked to tattoo parlours. Perhaps this link between hepatitis and tattoos is one of the ...

OSHA Violations

...recent citations issued

Vascular Solutions, P.C.

Charlotte, NC

$350

Failure to have an exposure control plan

Failure to make Hepatitis B vaccination available after the employee has received training and within 10 working days.

The employer shall establish and maintain an accurate record for each employee with occupational exposure. This record shall include: The name and social security number of the employee; A copy of the employee's hepatitis B vaccination status including the dates of all the hepatitis B vaccinations and any medical records relative to the employee's ability to receive vaccination

Carson Convalescent Center

Carson City, NV 89701

$1,125

No bloodborne pathogen exposure determination

Facility did not solicit input from non-managerial employees who are potentially exposed to injuries from contaminated sharps in the identification, evaluation, and selection of effective engineering and work practice controls

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.

Failure to record the names and job titles of all persons attending the BBP training sessions

Norton Sound Health Corporation

Nome, AK

$1,875

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.

ISIPS Corporate Members

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

Amgen

Covidien

B. Braun Medical, Inc.

Needlestick Prevention

SuturTek Incorporated

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

LifeChoice Donor Services

AOHP Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare

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

Purple Surgical International, Ltd.

Cory Bros Ltd.

Advanced Medical Innovations

Sharps Compliance, Inc.

Ethicon, Inc.

Advantage Medical Devices

Real Needlestick and
Blood Exposure Stories

One of my friends had an amusing needlestick story. He was doing nights, and at that hospital was the only Medical Doctor who was seeing patients referred from A and E for admission. It was busy but he was keeping on top of it. Then he had a needlestick from a fairly high risk patient. He decided to go to A and E and find some Anti retroviral treatments.

Now they refused to just give him the keys to the cupboard and give him the medication. They said he had to register as a patient and wait – but of course they kept referring him patients – so whilst he was waiting he saw a few referrals. In the end he just refused to see any more patients until they gave him some darn medication

Featured Safety Product

The Platypus® Needle Guard – dual locking feature with audible click for increased safety during apheresis and hemodialysis needle withdrawal procedures. Platypus® Needle Guard immediately shields the needle on withdrawal reducing risk of exposure and needlestick injury.

With the secondary locking feature, Platypus® closes off the needle providing the user a high level of sharps protection and also reduces the opportunity for blood exposure.

Platypus® conveniently attaches to the tubing prior to or during the apheresis or hemodialysis procedures. The effortless withdrawal technique means that Platypus® requires minimal training and fits seamlessly into existing procedures.

Platypus® Needle Guard – improving the safety of apheresis and hemodialysis procedures.

To obtain samples or for more information on the Platypus® Needle Guard call 1-888-411-2851 or email sales@itlus.com or visit www.itlcorporation.com.

SPECIAL BOOKMARKS

CLICK HERE FOR BOOKMARKS ON SHARPS INJURY, AIDS, HIV, HEPATITIS, CONSUMER HEALTH SITES, CONSUMER MEDICAL SITES AND SHARPS SAFETY POSTERS PRODUCED BY ISIPS

View Today's Health News click here!

ISIPS Articles

Managing Infection Control articles written by Ron Stoker

Most Recent Articles on Top

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

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.

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

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 By Ron Stoker
Future Healthcare, Summer 2006 p 121-3

Links

Academy for Safety Excellence

Needlestick Prevention Tour

Eureka! Sharps Disposal

Immunization Branch, California Department of Health Services

ANFIM - Association of Needle-free Injection Manufacturers

International Association of EMTs and Paramedics

LifeChoice Donor Services

AOHP - Association of Occupational Health Professionals in Healthcare

CINA - Canadian Intravenous Nurses Association

Quality America, Inc.

Center for Phlebotomy Education

Managing Infection Control Magazine

The Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals

Academy for Safety Excellence

Terry Jo Gile, MT (ASCP), MA Ed.
The Safety Lady
and
Ronald L. Stoker, MS
Executive Director and Founder - ISIPS
International Sharps Injury Prevention Society

The Academy for Lab Safety Excellence is a program designed by Safety Lady LLC to help you make the transition from bench tech to lab safety officer. You will learn to navigate the world of laboratory safety from the Safety Lady. You will discover the secrets to lab safety excellence that has taken others years to acquire. You will be able to network with colleagues to help you solve your most challenging safety issues.

This Academy is a perfect way to advance your safety knowledge if you:

Are new to lab safety or have limited experience in lab safety issues
Find it frustrating to locate safety information from a variety of sources
Want to expand the impact of your lab safety expertise
Want to increase your effectiveness in educating staff on lab safety issues
Need ready access to colleagues whose expertise in lab safety is well known
Would like to network with your peers on a regular basis for lab safety ideas
Have a limited budget for safety education

You can expect:

A 30 minute personal mentoring phone call to address your specific lab safety challenges
A minimum of eight conference calls over a 12 month period with other members of the Academy to brainstorm safety issues and cover a particular safety topic including:
- Conducting a proper safety audit and why it is important
- Designing and implementing a comprehensive chemical hygiene program
- Protecting employees through the use of ergonomic tools and PPE
- Shipping of infectious and biological substances
  Infection control and prevention
- Bloodborne pathogens and sharps injury prevention
- What's new in waste management
- Training methods that won't put your staff to sleep
- Timely updates via email with lab safety information before it is posted on the website or in the Safety Savvy newsletter
- Special audio conferences with guest experts on a variety of lab safety topics
- Sample safety templates to make documentation easier
- Unlimited emails to the ISIPS Executive Secretary
- Discounts on featured Safety products
- Ten(10) P.A.C.E. contact hours after successfully completing the Academy

An investment of $249 for all sessions
Dates for the Academy:
- October 22, 2009, November 12. 2009, January 14, 2010, February 11, 2010, March 11, 2010, April 15, 2010, May 20, 2010, June 10, 2010

The scheduled start time for all Academy webinars will be

10 am PDT, 11 am MDT, 12 pm CDT, 1 pm PDT, A preview webinar will be held on September 22 at 11 am MDT.

Preview Webinar - Academy of Safety
Tuesday, September 22nd at 11:00am Mountain
Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast -- it's your choice)
TO ATTEND THIS EVENT, CLICK THIS LINK NOW...
http://instantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=8575968

For more information please contact Terry Jo Gile, the Safety Lady, at info@safetylady.com or call toll free 877-894-7004.
To register for the Academy click here.

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