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 Welcome to the ISIPS Newsletter
September 3, 2010 
USA News

USA Health News

Should Mayo Clinic have told patients about hepatitis risk sooner?
"In 2007 we discovered several cases of hepatitis C. .... We believed that this was a health-care acquired infection," Jacksonville CEO Dr. Bill Rupp said...

HIV-Positive Man Jailed For Transmitting Virus Into His Girlfriend
The victim, a 19 years old girl who was pregnant with the 32 year olds baby, found out that she was HIV positive after a blood test during her pregnancy.

Clinic Knew Of Hep C Years Before Public
The CDC released a report last year about the hepatitis C investigation going on at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, but the public only learned about it last...

Global News

In Rare Move, China Court to Hear HIV Case
HIV-positive Chinese suffered official and public discrimination for years after the disease first surfaced in the country in 1986.

Health service plays down hepatitis transmission fears
The South East Sydney Illawarra Health Service says patients attending Wollongong Hospital's Renal Unit should not be concerned after a case of hepatitis C...

Avian Flu

CDC begins national bird flu vaccination program
Although the bird flu vaccination will be free of charge, citizens still need to pay registration fees and medical examination fees to receive the...

Experts warn deadly bird flu could return
Bird flu experts are warning the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain could re-emerge in Thailand even though there has been little sign of it for years.

Animals can be trained to sniff out bird flu: study
American scientists have carried out a lab test on mice that sucessfully sniffed out bird flu infection in duck droppings, a feat that raises hopes of using...

Swine Flu

15 to 20% can fall victim to swine flu twice
PUNE: Can one get the swine flu infection twice? Yes, says the National Institute of Virology (NIV). The reason being, 15 to 20 per cent of the people who...

Kota reports two swine flu deaths
JAIPUR: Swine flu casualties continue to rise in Rajasthan as two more deaths were reported from Kota on Wednesday. Also, 24 new cases of the disease were...

Swine flu: VMC spreads awareness in wards
With the increase in the number of swine flu cases in the city, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has decided to take preventive measures to check

54 more swine flu cases in Delhi, total
PTI Another 54 patients today tested positive for H1N1 virus, taking the count of swine flu cases in the city to 980 so far this...

27-yr-old woman dies of swine flu
A 27-year-old woman admitted at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital died on Tuesday due to swine flu, taking the total number of deaths reported in Delhi...

3 more swine flu deaths
The march of the swine flu virus continued on Tuesday, with three more deaths bring attributed to H1N1 being reported from Government Medical...

89 swine flu deaths in India this week
PTI Swine flu continued its grip on India with 89 deaths reported from across the country in the week ending August 29.

Medical News

Hepatitis C Drug Shows Potential
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry Combining a direct performing anti-viral medication into the traditional therapy method for hepatitis C...

West Nile

Passaic County man, 86, is third confirmed NJ West Nile virus case
State health officials have confirmed three cases of West Nile virus in New Jersey this summer. The latest case is an 86-year-old Passaic...

West Nile mosquitoes are detected again
Boston public health officials say mosquitoes infected with the West Nile virus have been found in north Dorchester and in Hyde Park.

2 die in Romania from West Nile virus
Romanian authorities say two people have died and at least five others have been hospitalized after becoming infected with the West Nile virus.

Massachusetts records its first West Nile virus case of 2010
The first human case of West Nile Virus to be documented in Massachusetts this year has been recorded in Boston.

Access Scientific

In 1953, the newly introduced Seldinger Technique represented a significant improvement in vascular access technology. Later, the Modified Seldinger Technique further advanced ease-of-access, by using a dilator coupled with a sheath, and eventually evolved into today’s standard, over-wire insertion technique. Despite its advantages, hazards are associated with the Modified Seldinger Technique. These include: accidental needlestick injury, guidewire embolus,contamination, bleeding, lost cannulation during the procedure… and more. The WAND enables healthcare
providers to utilize the new Accelerated Seldinger Technique, representing a quantum leap forward in vascular access technology.

The WAND is an all-in-one (needle-guidewire-dilatorsheath) safety introducer that speeds over-wire vascular access while reducing the risk of guidewire embolus, contamination and accidental needlestick injury. Experienced clinicians are hailing The WAND as the new standard in vascular access technology—faster, safer and simpler.

The Accelerated Seldinger Technique reduces the number of exchanges and steps necessary for vascular access.  It reduces the risk of air embolism, contamination, guidewire embolus, loss of cannulation during the procedure, and accidental needlestick injury.

For more information click here.

Mag-Mat™

A re-useable magnetic mat that provides a secure 'hands free' transfer zone for metallic instruments, thus reducing the risk of third party inflicted sharps injuries.

  • Strong ceramic magnetic surface ensures secure retention of metallic instruments

  • High quality, reinforced mesh design ensures a highly cost effective, long-lasting device

  • Autoclavable

  • Large (40cm x 30cm) surface allows transfer of multiple instruments

  • Waterproof construction minimises the risk of any pathogen cross infection

For more information in the United States:

AMI

Outside the United States:

Purple Surgical and

Cory Bros.

 

 
In This Issue

Workers Risking Injury by Not Wearing PPE
Nearly all of the safety professionals in a recent survey said that workers in their organizations had at some point failed to wear the necessary safety equipment while on the job.

Flexible endoscopes a top hazard, according to ECRI
“The number one hazard on this year’s list is a nightmare that thousands of patients have experienced in recent years,” Eric Sacks, director of Healthcare Product Alerts for ECRI, told a webcast audience, according to Medical Device Daily.

Potential for airborne transmission of infection in the waiting areas of healthcare premises: stochastic analysis using a Monte Carlo model
Although many infections that are transmissible from person to person are acquired through direct contact between individuals, a minority, notably pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), measles and influenza are known to be spread by the airborne route.

Bloodborne pathogen risks in the lab
Barb worked in microbiology. She was the first to arrive at 5 a.m. and was usually there for about an hour before the rest of the staff arrived. One morning, she was performing her usual removal of negative glass blood culture bottles.

Risk assessments: The catch-all for hazard analysis
The risk assessment is a simple but effective tool to evaluate any number of risks stemming from worker protection, facility design requirements, or patient safety.

Mobile Phone is a Hygiene Risk, Study Says
Technology, from smart and mobile phones to laptops, could be spreading illnesses and potentially killer diseases because of poor hand hygiene, according to research released by the Co-operative Pharmacy, a pharmacy retail chain in the United Kingdom.

Seeing is achieving with hand sanitizers
In “Patient safety begins with proper planning: A quantitative method to improve hospital design,” 52 physicians examined patients in one of two specially designed rooms. The rooms differed only in the placement of hand sanitizers. In one room the sanitizer was in the physician’s field of view during the examination; not so in the other room.

Ask the expert: Why the mulligan for the hepatitis B vaccination?
What is the reason for having to re-administer the hepatitis B vaccination when a worker fails to respond to the first three-shot series?

Sterile matters: Keeping your fingers free from needlesticks and other sharps
We all know the basics, from no re-capping of needles to using puncture proof/sharps approved biohazard disposal boxes. However, what about all of the other ways healthcare workers become stuck, punctured, cut, and otherwise exposed to used sharps?

Study examines universal gloving as an alternative for contact precautions
Every infection preventionist (IP) knows that when a patient is on contact precautions, the healthcare worker caring for that patient should be wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, a gown, and a mask.

News releases as auguries of OSHA enforcement
Has the character of OSHA changed from the Bush to the Obama administrations? The proof of the pudding may be in the reading of news releases..

ANA calls for immunity award nominations
Recognizing the important part that nurses play in promoting immunizations, the American Nurses Association (ANA) is announcing the Immunity Award and calling for nominations.

Hospitals face legal dilemma if they test incapacitated patients after needle ...
“Our survey showed that 63 per cent of the units who responded had recorded an incident where a member of staff had suffered a needlestick injury while...

HIV Fighters Gain Speed
A new generation of HIV tests requiring just a swish of a plastic stick around the gums or a finger prick is being offered throughout...

HIV said to differ in blood...
HIV-infected blood and ...hold different versions of the virus that causes AIDS, a finding that could help researchers find an effective vaccine.

OSHA Violations
...citations issued
Offices and Clinics of Doctors of Medicine

Phoenix, AZ

 The employer shall assure that employees who decline to accept hepatitis B vaccination offered by the employer sign the statement in Appendix A.
Carolina Family Foot Care, P.A.

Raleigh, NC

$525

Failure to document implementation of compliance, vaccination, and follow-up
Failure to have an exposure control plan

Failure to have an exposure control plan

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.

Immediately or as soon as possible after use, contaminated reusable sharps shall be placed in appropriate containers until properly reprocessed

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

Real Needlestick and
Blood Exposure Stories

I am a dental assistant in southern Ohio, im very worried, last week, I got stuck with a used needle from one of our patients, in the state of Ohio, the pt can refuse to be tested, but the pt said she didn't mind. But she still hasn't been bye to pick up the script to have the blood work done. We have called her and left messages, but she does not return our calls. The really bad thing is, and the reason I am worried so much, is, she just completed a drug rehab program, but I don't know what kind of drugs she was on. So anybody in my position would also be stressing and worried about this. She seemed to be a very clean person, 0she had nice teeth, so that tells me that she was not into crack, but you never can tell these days. (Her medical history did not have any diseases marked)

Featured Safety Product

EZ Huber® Safety Infusion Set

An Easy-to-Use, Power Injectable Venous Access System

Safety, Speed and Comfort

5mL/sec. 300 psi Flow Rate/pressure Rating*
Indicated for contrast-enchanced CT imaging procedures

Small Footprint Enhances site visualization

Low Profile and Padded Base
Designed for patient comfort

Special features that enhance clinical safety:

Visual and audible confirmation of safety activation

Dual-action safety needle designed to shield the tip and shroud the entire needle cannula, reducing the risk of bloodborne pathogen exposure. 

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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