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Reduce sharps injuries and bloodborne pathogen exposures This list has been compiled to help clinicians reduce sharps injuries and bloodborne pathogen exposures. It contains scores of safety product categories with a description of the category and a list of safety products that fit under that category. Are you aware of other safety products that should be included in this list? Please send an e-mail to info@isips.org.
Air Bubble Removal Devices Clinicians must expel air bubbles from blood samples safely without exposure to blood or bloodborne pathogens. Allows air out the filter end but does not allow blood. This device eliminates accidentally expelled blood droplets caused by aerosolizing air bubbles from a blood-filled syringe.
Allergy Syringes Allergen immunotherapy (allergy injection treatment) consists of repeated injections of one or more mixtures of extracts of allergens over a period of several years. A variety of allergy syringes are available with retractable needles, or shielded needles.
Amniocentesis Trays Amniocentesis is a procedure where fluid is aspirated out of the amniotic sac. Fetal urine, fetal cells, and various proteins move freely within this sac. During amniocentesis, a long needle is placed through the abdominal wall and into the amniotic sac. Once the needle is in the amniotic sac, a syringe is used to aspirate the amniotic fluid. The fluid is then sent for evaluation. New technologies provide safety sharps that can protect the user from needlesticks.
Ampoule Breaker Ampoules are small glass vessels in which liquids for injections are hermetically sealed. When the cap is snapped off, glass chips can fly off and a jagged or sharp edge can cut the hands of clinicians and others. The scoring at the neck does not always break where it is intended. This is due to the glass re-melding to some degree at the score line. In one study more than 62 percent of nurses said that they have been cut by a broken glass ampoule. Safety ampoule breakers prevent this problem by covering the glass ampoule during the breaking process, thus protecting the clinician’s hands.
Anesthesia Trays anesthesia trays containing safety-engineered components that minimize sharps injury potential.
Apheresis Needles Apheresis is a special blood donation procedure in which plasma or selected cellular elements, such as platelets or white cells, are separated from the other parts of the blood and retained. Blood is drawn and processed through a cell separator, and the other cells and plasma are returned to the body. Apheresis takes approximately two hours compared with a whole blood donation of about eight to 10 minutes. During apheresis, the patient or donor is connected to the apheresis machine. A needle is inserted into a vein in each arm. Blood is withdrawn from one arm, run through the machine to extract the stem cells, and all the remaining components of the blood are returned to the donor through the needle in the other arm. In the case of a patient donating their own stem cells, this process is performed using a central venous catheter, which has two lumens.
Arterial Blood Gas Syringes Arterial blood must be used for ABG measurement rather than venous blood because only arterial blood accurately reflects the amount of pO2 transferred from the lungs. Specialized safety products are used for this.
Arterial Catheter Stabilization Products Arterial catheter stabilization products are designed to hold arterial lines in place throughout therapy. Rather than using sutures, with the inherent suture wounds and the potential for accidental needlesticks—just stabilization.
Arterial Line Draw Arterial
and venous infusion lines are used to introduce fluids
into the
Automated Filling of IV Syringe Doses The standard method of filling syringes manually creates many opportunities of accidental needlesticks and other occupational exposure to medications. Automated systems are available that make the filling of syringes safer.
Bifurcated Needles Bifurcated needles administer vaccines by the scarification method. There is currently only one safety bifurcated needle available for smallpox vaccinations if they become necessary again.
Biohazard Spill Kit A BioHazard Spill Clean-Up Kit provides everything necessary for cleanup of bodily fluids such as blood, vomit, urine etc.
Bleeding Time Devices Bleeding time products make an incision and are then discarded into an approved sharps container. A timer is started and the edge of the incision is blotted at 30-second intervals with filter paper. The time that the bleeding stops is noted.
Blood Collection Blood drawing is the process of obtaining a sample of venous blood to assist in diagnosis. Typically a 5 ml to 25 ml sample of blood is adequate depending on what blood tests have been requested. A variety of devices are available to draw blood into evacuated tubes.
Vacutainer Eclipse Blood Collection Needle, Vacutainer® Push Button Blood Collection Set, Vacutainer® Safety-Lok™ Blood Collection Set, Eclipse Safety Shielding Blood Collection Needle, One Use Stackable Holder, Vacutainer Passive Shielding Blood Collection Needle with Integrated Blood Tube Holder, Vacutainer® Eclipse™ Blood Collection Needle, Vacutainer® Push Button Collection Set, BD Vacutainer Flashback Needle; BD, www.bd.com VanishPoint Blood Collection Tube Holder (needle-retracting tube holder with back-end needle protection); Retractable Technologies, www.vanishpoint.com One Stick Y extension set with Volumeter, One Stick LLC, www.1stick.com Punctur-Guard Blood Collection Needle; Gaven Medical; www.gavenmedical.com
Blood Culture Bottles A blood culture is a laboratory test in which blood is injected into bottles of culture media to determine whether microorganisms have invaded the patient’s bloodstream. These blood cultures are ordered as a set consisting of two bottles, one that is an aerobic bottle and one that is an anaerobic bottle. A blood culture is done when a person has symptoms of a blood infection or bacteremia. Blood is withdrawn from the person and is then tested in a laboratory to find and identify any microorganism present and growing in the blood. This allows the physician to prescribe antibiotics if a microorganism is found. Blood is drawn from a person suspected of blood infection and is put directly into a blood culture bottle containing a nutritional broth. Some culture bottles allow clinicians to use safety needled products in transferring the blood.
Blood Culture Bottle Sample Introduction These products are used to collect samples into vacuum blood culture bottles for bacterial detection and test tubes for laboratory tests.
Blood Donor Needles Blood donor needles transfers blood from a blood donor into donor bags. Following the blood donation the needle is retracted or shielded to prevent needlestick injuries.
Blood Filtration Set Blood filtration set designed for the neonatal infusion of frequently administered small volumes of blood, blood components and other fluids subject to micro filtration. The filtration set replaces a needle filter.
Blood Slide Preparation Devices These products eliminate the need to remove the stopper from the blood tube. The old and potentially dangerous method to prepare differential slides was to take two glass slides, open a blood tube by removing its cap, place a drop of blood onto one of the slides and then place one slide against the other one. New safety products can eliminate the potential of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and without the risk of broken glass or blood splatter.
Blood Splash Protection OSHA has recommended that healthcare workers protect themselves from biohazardous splashes, aerosols, and sprays. One method of doing this is by using transparent shields that can limit bloodborne pathogen exposures.
Blood Transfer Devices Blood can sometime need to be transferred from a syringe draw to an evacuated tube. Safety products can be used to eliminate sharps and bloodborne pathogen exposure during this process.
Saf-T Holder®; Smiths Medical, www.smiths-medical.com BLOOD TUBE HOLDER & SHIELD FOR TRANSFER OF BLOOD FROM SYRINGE TO VACUUM TUBE; Innovative Laboratory Acrylics; www.innovativelabacrylics.com/products/pages/bloodtube.html
Blunt Cannula Needles Blunt cannula needles can be used in a variety of settings where a cannula is needed but where a sharp one is not required.
Blunt Suture Needles Blunt needle cannula complies with OSHA Bloodborne Standard for Engineering Controls. Blunt needles can be used to access pre-pierced ports, and single or multi-dose drug vials. Use of these products can increase safety and ease of use by decreasing the number of steps required to draw and deliver intravenous fluids.
Bone Marrow Biopsy Needle Kits Bone marrow biospy needle kits provide all of the components necessary to acquire bone marrow aspirate with safety components included in the kit.
Bone Marrow Collection Systems Closed system that allows for the collection of bone marrow aspirates without healthcare worker exposure.
Bone Mill, Disposable Bone mills are used to grind bone to be used for spinal fusion, orthopedic reconstruction, and maxillofacial procedures. These procedures expose health-care workers to sharps injuries. A disposable bone mill can eliminate exposure to sharp injuries for hospital staff, as well as cross-contamination for patients and OR personnel. Since the disposable mill is thrown away after each procedure, there is no risk for blood-borne pathogen exposure.
Capillary Blood Collection Capillary blood sampling is used when only small amounts of blood are needed for testing. A capillary puncture may be used when venipuncture would be too invasive or when other clinical features are manifest such as extensive scarring, bruising, obesity, and so on.
Unistik 3 safety lancets; Owen Mumford www.owenmumford.com
Carpuject Safety Needle Systems Carpuject syringe systems consist of prefilled cartridges that can be loaded into a specialized syringe holder. The holder is a reusable, plastic device. The other component is a disposable cartridge unit containing medication.
Cataract Safety Scalpel Specially designed, integrated retractable shield that protects the blade in procedure and handling. Allow the incision is scleral or corneal.
Catheter Securement Devices According to the CDC, sutureless securement devices can be advantageous over suture securement in preventing catheter-related BSIs. The Infusion Nurses Society (INS) has indicated that using a manufactured stabilization device is preferred to suturing or taping.
Central Venous Catheters A central venous catheter (CVC) is placed into a large vein in the neck (internal jugular vein), chest (subclavian vein) or groin (femoral vein). Central venous catheters are used to deliver medication, fluids, obtain blood tests and obtain cardiovascular measurements including some tests as central venous pressures.
Cerclage fixation of
osteotomized or fractured bone fragments
Chemotherapy Reconstitution Products Products in this category are designed to help prevent aerosolization of chemotherapy and other hazardous drugs into the atmosphere during reconstitution.
Chemo Waste Sharps Containers Specialized containers to place needles and other sharps into as mandated by law. In addition, these containers are used for chemotherapy waste products.
Closed Arterial Sampling Closed needleless arterial blood collection systems are designed to reduces the risk of nosocomial infection or line sepsis, reduce splashing and spraying of blood during sampling and reduces the potential exposure from needlesticks.
Closed Venous Sampling Closed needleless venous blood collection systems are designed to reduces the risk of nosocomial infection or line sepsis, reduce splashing and spraying of blood during sampling and reduces the potential exposure from needlesticks.
SafeSet™ Closed Blood Sampling System, Hospira, www.hospira.com/Products/safeset.aspx
VAMP Adult, VAMP
Jr, Vamp Plus; Edwards Life Sciences;
www.edwards.com Closed System Antineoplastic Systems An important part of treatment for cancer patients is the use of antineoplastic agents. Unfortunately, these agents have been associated with potential adverse health effects for the individuals who prepare, administer and dispose of these medications. This is a major concern because there are more cancer patients than in the past, greater combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs are being used, more potent drugs are being used, and new procedures and settings have now been implemented. Often the drugs used for chemotherapy have a similar structure or activity known to hazardous drugs. Many of these drugs are carcinogenic, teratogenic, and can create reproductive and organ toxicity. Closed system protective devices can virtually eliminate any exposure of toxic drugs to healthcare workers, custodial staff or waste management employees.
Cord Clamping Products Two plastic clamps are placed on the cord and then are severed with scissors. Both disposable and reusable scissors are a potential source of sharps injuries to healthcare workers and others. Newer technologies exist that can take the risk of a sharps injury out of this procedure.
Cord Blood Collection Products Cord blood collection products are designed to obtain samples of venous umbilical cord blood after delivery of a newborn infant and aids in the prevention of needle stick injuries.
Dental Anesthesia—Automatic Computer controlled local anesthesia delivery enhances the injection process for both the dentist and the patient. Safety products retract the needle after injection making it safe for dental professionals.
Dental Anesthesia Syringe Dental Anesthetic Syringes provide one-handed, single-use, disposable syringe injectors for the delivery of dental anesthetics.
Dosing Adapter A self-sealing septum allows access to the container's contents using nearly any brand oral syringe.
Epidural Needle Safety Epidural Needles help anesthesiologists meet OSHA guidelines while taking care of the needs of patients.
Epidural Continuous Infusion Trays Safety epidural trays have safety components that keep clinicians safe from needlestick injury and bloodborne pathogen exposure.
Evacuated Blood Tubes, Plastic Glass evacuated blood tubes have been used for decades and they frequently break exposing clinicians to unnecessary risks. Plastic Evacuated Blood Tubes are available for a variety of tests.
Face Shields Face shields protect the face from blood splash incidents.
Fascia Closing Device Accidental suture needlesticks are the leading cause of sharps injury in the operating room. Suture needlesticks have been reported at rates as high as one in every 18 surgical cases, placing surgeons and OR personnel at serious risk of life-threatening infections.
Finger Incision Devices One method for blood collection when very little blood is needed is the finger-incision method. These products have a hidden blade that incises the skin to a controlled, standardized depth. The device creates a shallow incision in the finger which cuts more of the capillary bed without cutting too deeply thus allowing blood to flow freely for a high quality blood specimen.
Finger Protection This category features devices used to provide needlestick protection during gynecological and urological surgical procedures. These products facilitate suture placement and tissue dissection and can be used in surgical procedures of other specialties. They are radiopaque for identification during radiological studies.
Finger-stick Sampling When only small quantities of blood are needed for testing a small sample of blood can be obtained by means of a finger stick. A finger stick describes the process of puncturing or incising the skin with a small sharp blade. The blood is allowed to pool on the finger tip and a small capillary tube is placed against the blood where it is apirated up into the tube.
SAFE-T-FILL Capillary Blood Collection; RAM Scientific, www.ramsci.com Unistik 3 safety lancets; Owen Mumford www.owenmumford.com
Flu Syringe The CDC has recommended all health care providers, as well as those in training for healthcare professions, be vaccinated annually against influenza. It is important that institutions use safety syringes when administering flu shots to their employees.
Glove, Puncture Indicator Gloves The double gloving system that visibly indicates when a puncture occurs in the presence of fluid. Surgical gloves not only prevent infection of the patient during surgery, but also from the primary barrier to viral transmission from the patient to the wearer. However, any puncture in the glove can present a potential hazard. This unique product category provides the wearer with an immediate, easily recognizable visual indication of glove puncture in the presence of fluid, providing a proven precaution against the risks to the surgical team from bloodborne pathogens during medical procedures. If the outer glove is punctured, ingress of fluid through the puncture hole is clearly visible as a dark green patch around the site of the puncture.
Guide wire bowl or basin Guide wire basins or holders can organize, hydrate and hold guide wires. They can also be used to contain the guide wire upon disposal and thus protecting clinicians from an injury from the end of the guide wire.
Hand Hygiene Products Each year there are many serious nosocomial infections. In fact, over 90,000 patient deaths per year are attributed to nosocomial infection. The costs for treatment are over $4.5 Billion per year in the U.S. alone. One of the big issues is hand washing compliance which is only at about 40 percent. One study performed in a hospital nursery found that babies acquired staphylococci more frequently when cared for by nurses who didn't wash their hands than babies cared for by nurses who washed their hands between patient contacts. New guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and infection-control organizations recommend that healthcare workers use an alcohol-based hand rub (a gel, rinse or foam) to routinely clean their hands between patient contacts, as long as hands are not dirty.
Hazardous Waste Containers Hazardous Waste Containers are designed to segregate hazardous pharmaceutical waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
HeelStick Lancet or Incision Devices Heel stick Lancet or incision devices provide a safe, effective method for obtaining blood samples from the heels of infants.
Hemodialysis Catheters/Needles Damaged kidneys require use of hemodialysis where blood flows into a special filter that removes wastes and fluids. “Clean” blood flows back into the body. Most of us are fortunate enough to have two healthy kidneys that keep our blood clean by removing wastes, and excess fluid and minerals. The kidneys also produce hormones that keep our bones strong and our blood healthy. If our kidneys were to fail, harmful wastes build up in our bodies, our blood pressure may rise, and we retain excess fluid. We also do not make enough red blood cells. When these conditions occur it is necessary to get treatments that will replace the functioning of failing kidneys.
Hemoglobin Reader Typical hemoglobin readers require a variety of methods to place the sample into the machine increasing risk of bloodborne pathogen exposure. New technologies exist that allow blood to be pulled into the microcuvette with capillary action.
Huber Needles Huber needles administer chemotherapy, antibiotics, and TPN through implanted ports. The needle may be left in the port for days and it can sometimes be difficult to extract the needle safely. The difficulty of pulling the needle out creates a recoil action with the clinician often getting stuck by the needle into the stabilizing hand. Safety Huber needles, therefore are essential to use.
Infectious Waste Sharps Collectors for Regulated Medical Waste Most of us are concerned about needlestick injuries and the concern about infectious agents. Other items used in the delivery of health care or in research and which have come in contact with infectious agents, for example, glass or rigid plastic culture tubes, flasks, beakers, etc., must also be considered as sharps and be disposed of accordingly. This category allows for the proper disposal of items that do not typify the "classic sharp" because they still can give rise to puncture or laceration wounds.
Injection Therapy
Insulin Injection
Insulin Pen An insulin pen is a small device the size of a fountain pen that includes a needle and holds a vial of insulin. It can be used instead of a syringe for giving insulin injections.
Insulin Pen needle remover Insulin Pen needle removers were designed for the easy removal of insulin pen needles, minimizing the risk of accidental punctures.
Introducer Needles These long needles are used to obtain access to the vasculature for cardiology or radiology procedures. Following the needle insertion into the patient’s vasculature, a guide wire is inserted through the needle. The needle is removed from off the guide wire. Safety products with needles that retract or are shielded are now available.
Iontophoretic Drug Delivery Products Ionotophoresis could be defined as the ability to move medication across the skin by using an electrical charge. Ionotophoresis uses low level electrical current to speed up the delivery of the drug ions into the skin and surrounding tissues. This is an alternate method to a typical injection using a needle.
IV Access IV and Vial Access blunt and plastic needles fit a variety of pre-pierced ports and can be used with any single or multi-dose drug vial. This can increase safety and ease of use by decreasing the number of steps required to draw and deliver intravenous fluids.
IV Catheter Safety IV catheters are used to access the bloodstream for IV administration of drugs and for aspiration of blood while keeping healthcare worker safe.
Knee Tap Syringe After a traumatic knee injury blood may collect behind the knee cap. This blood collection can cause swelling, pain, and immobility and should be removed. After preparing the skin with an antiseptic solution, a needle is inserted underneath the knee cap where a a small amount of local anesthetic is injected at the injection site. The clinician then inserts a large bore needle attached to a syringe into a point just below the center of the knee cap. The clinician feels a "pop" as he/she feels the needle enter the sac. The clinician will then aspirate as much blood as possible. If the syringe is completely filled, the syringe is emptied and reattached. At the end of the procedure a safety syringe is attached to the needle and the needle is retracted into the barrel.
Lancet Lancets are fine sharp-pointed blades or needles used to get a sample of blood for glucose testing. Most automatic lancing devices consist of a hand-held tube with a spring-loaded lancet. To obtain a blood sample, the device is held against the skin and a button is pressed to release the lancet.
Inflatable surgical trays designed to prevent spillage of blood and lavage fluids during surgery.
Luer Access Valve Disinfection Cap P rovides passing disinfection of valve top and threads.
Lumbar Puncture Kits Lumbar puncture procedures are performed for a variety of purposes including: diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) infections, diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage, infusion of anesthetic, chemotherapy, or contrast agents into the spinal canal, treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension and the evaluation and diagnosis on demylinating or inflammatory CNS processes. There are lumbar puncture kits available with safety components to protect the healthcare worker from inadvertent exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infected materials. Curity™ Lumbar Puncture Trays with Safety Components, Sensitouch™ Lumbar Puncture Trays with Safety Components; Covidien, www.Covidien.com
Magnetic Instrument Transfer Magnetic drapes introduce a safe and effective way to minimize percutaneous injuries and accidental sticks during instrument transfer in the OR. Magnetic drapes attract and hold surgical instruments on the sterile field. They could be part of a comprehensive program to include engineering controls and proper work practices to eliminate bloodborne pathogen exposures.
Magnetic Sharps Retriever Does your institution have a method that is outlined to pick up sharps that have fallen onto the floor? Hands should never be used to do this. There are several hands-free sharps collection systems that can easily fit under operating room and exam tables. This allows medical personnel to retrieve needles and other sharps without bending or stretching and without risking an accidental sharps injury.
Medical Fluid Waste Disposal In the past, hazardous blood wastes from angiographic catheterizations were "squirted" into an open basin creating a messy, potentially infection problem for clinicians and those required to clean up after the case. Closed waste basins provide a safer alternative and minimize exposure to staff.
Medication Reconstitution There are many new drugs that have recently been marketed in a lyophilized form. This increases the shelf life of the product and shortens the time-to-market. These drugs require an additional reconstitution step prior to administration.
Microfiltration Microfiltration of blood is used when infusing small volumes of blood, blood components and other fluids.
Microblood Collection Micro blood collection requires gathering small amounts of blood without the clinician being exposed during the collection process.
Micro introducer Micro Introducer kits are intended to provide vascular access using a smaller needle and dilating the vessel to introduce a larger catheter.
Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Suturing Device
Myelogram Safety Trays Myelogram trays that have safety components to minimize needlestick and other sharps injuries and bloodborne pathgogen exposures.
Mylar-Wrapped Glass Hematocrit Tubes Mylar-wrapped Hematocrit Tubes provide the precision of using glass tubes with the safety provided by a Mylar overwrap. If the tube breaks accidentally the Mylar wrap protects from glass injuries and bloodborne pathogen exposures.
Needle Counter During surgery, it is important to keep track of how many needles have been used to ensure that all of them have been removed from a patient when the operation is completed. Counting devices are frequently used in surgery to keep track of the number of used needles.
Needle Disintegration Products Needle disintegration products incinerate the needle immediately after an injection has been administered. By incinerating the sharp at very high temperatures, any liquid or residue inside of the needle is evaporated which removes infectious threats.
Needle-free IV Systems Needle-free IV access systems are used for the aspiration, injection or gravity flow of fluids into the body.
Needle-free IV System Protector Needleless IV access ports are often contaminated by air born contamination and by touch. it is very important to make sure that the injection site is clean prior to use. Products in this category helped to decontaminate the needleless IV access port and provides an effective, consistent and repeatable swabbing of luer activated needleless injection sites.
Needle-free IV Bag Spike Many IV sets have a spike on one end and an injection site on the other. The injection site is used to transfer medications directly into the IV bag. The use of a needle creates an unnecessary sharps exposure for healthcare workers and also provides an unnecessary risk to toxic medications. Needle-free systems are available that eliminate these risks.
Needle-free Stopcock Stopcocks provide a needle-free method of having multiple lines fed from a needleless connector.
Needleless Manifold Systems Manifold systems use the luer on a syringe to transfer fluids without the need for needles.
Needle Parking Device Needle parking devices allow clinicians to use a one-handed technique during suturing by letting them park the suture needle between stitches.
Neuropathy Screening During neurological examination clinicians have used needles and pins to determine if the patient has a decrease in sensation of sharpness or pain in small nerve fibers. Sterile Safety products are available that do not create an opportunity for an accidental needlestick or bloodborne pathogen exposure.
Neutral Zone Products The neutral zone is a location on the surgical field where sharps are placed from which the surgeon or scrub can retrieve them. Sharp instruments should always be passed using a neutral zone or product to minimize accidents and self wounding with sharp instruments.
Nuclear Medicine Safety Products Sharps safety products that protect clinicians from accidental needlesticks while providing appropriate tools for nuclear studies
Ophthalmic Scalpel Safety ophthalmic scalpels protect surgeon and nurses from the potential exposure of hepatitis and HIV. In addition, they can also protect patients from prions that are found in ophthalmic tissue that are not destroyed during sterilization procedures. Therefore, a disposable safety ophthalmic scalpel is very important
Oral Medication Syringes For Quick and Accurate Dispensing of Small Doses of Oral Medications
Paracentesis Trays Safety Paracentesis Procedure Trays include all necessary products to complete a paracentesis procedure and includes safety components to assure a safe working environment.
Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) Safety Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) kits contain safety components to minimize blood-borne pathogen exposure.
Peripheral IV Catheters After a peripheral IV catheter is inserted into a small vessel the needle is removed leaving a short over-the-needle catheter. Safety products are available that protect the clinician from being stuck following removal of the needle.
Pharmacy Sharps and Waste Disposal Specialized waste containers are necessary to meet the various state regulations for pharmaceutical waste.
PICC Catheter Peripherally inserted central catheter trays are available with safety components that enhance clinician/patient safety and facilitates hopistal compliance with federal and state regulations.
PICC Catheter Trays with Safety Components Peripherally inserted central catheter trays are available with safety components that enhance clinician/patient safety and facilitates hopistal compliance with federal and state regulations.
PICC Introducer Specialized PICC introduces are available that protect the clinician from an accidental needlestick injury.
Plastic Crimping Many clinicians are injured by metal crimping and broken glass wind opening radiopaque solutions. The PLUSPAK innovative packaging protects against sharps injuries from metal crimps and broken glass. It enhances workplace safety by providing a pull-ring and twist-off cap that helps to avoid injuries that often occur when using metal caps.
Plastic Fingerstick Sampling Blood Collection Tube Specialized collection and dispensing tubes allow for blood sample collection and dispensing from a single plastic tube.
Plastic Hematocrit Tubes Plastic hematocrit tubes should be used instead of using unprotected glass automatically tubes. Broken glass hematocrit tubes expose health care workers and others to the risk of infectious disease transmitted by blood via broken glass.
Plastic IV Access Cannula
Platelet Transfer Platelets can be transferred safely and can prevent needle stick injury to healthcare workers, donors, cleaning staff, contaminated waste disposal staff and the public at large.
Pneumothorax Trays Pneumothorax trays with safety components to minimize the risk of needlestick or scalpel injury from conventional products.
Pre-filled Syringes A prefilled syringe is a single-dose packet of medicant. Pre-filled syringe systems were used first in Europe during the 1980s. Pre-filled syringe systems have now been introduced in the United States. Having a prefilled system assures dosage accuracy during injection
Pre-operative Surgical Clippers The CDC state in the 1999 Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection that if hair is removed, it should be removed immediately before the operation with an electrical clipper which is associated with lower infection rates than shaving.
Pre-procedure Bandages Pre-Procedure Bandages are applied to the skin PRIOR to puncturing the skin. This provides a greatly enhanced degree of protection. The isolation of the site has already occurred before the skin is broken. Human exposure to bloodborne pathogens is minimized and contaminated sharps can be disposed of immediately. Pre-procedure bandages can protect healthcare workers from needlestick injuries and prevention of cross contamination of the intimate contacts of vaccinated individuals as well
Pre-surgical Skin Markers Clinicians change gloves with each patient and they can now change their skin markers.
Pulls, Nurse call or light Existing pull cords are constructed of nylon material which is absorbant and can allow organisms to permeate deep within the fibers. Alternate cords that are cleanable can be placed in restroom, shower stations, bedside lighting, and other places to avoid potential problems with bodily fluid secretions.
Sanipull, Wilshire Works, Inc; www.wilshireworks.com
Pulse Oximeter Probe Covers Pulse Oximeter probes are used for multiple patients. There our technologies that prevent cross contamination between patients.
Puncture-resistant Gloves Hospitals dispose of thousands of contaminated needles every day. Not only do needles end up in the trash, but they often show up in hospital laundry. Needle resistant products help prevent workers from getting stuck on the job when they come across needles.
Radial Artery Catheter To perform catheterization of a radial artery safely using the modified Seldinger technique, a catheter kit containing safety components, guidewire, sharp needle and catheter is needed.
Recapping Devices The revised OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard permits recapping of contaminated needles only under very specific and limited circumstances, such as with incremental doses of medication or the injection of radioactive materials. When recapping must be performed, it must be accomplished by the use of a mechanical device or one-handed technique.
Retracting Needles, Automatic Every year numerous clinicians suffer an accidental needlestick injury. It is estimated that there are 1 million needlestick injuries in the US patent 3 million needlestick injuries in the world each year. Retractable syringes can help solve this problem. There are essentially no clinical applications for which retractable syringes are not only suitable but life saving in nature.
Retracting Needles, Manual Every year numerous clinicians suffer an accidental needlestick injury. It is estimated that there are 1 million needlestick injuries in the US patent 3 million needlestick injuries in the world each year. Retractable syringes can help solve this problem. There are essentially no clinical applications for which retractable syringes are not only suitable but life saving in nature.
Safety Debridement Safety Debridement Kits assist in the removal of dead, contaminated or adherent tissue from a wound site. Some kits contact safety components to minimize sharps injuries.
Scalpels, Retractable Retractable scalpel blades allow the clinician to slide the blade into a safe position prior to passing it. · Allegiance® Retractable Safety Scalpels; Cardinal, www.cardianal.com
Scalpels, Shielded After use of the scalpel blade, a button slide is used to push a shield on top of the blade rendering it safe to pass or move into a neutral or safe transfer zone.
SharpGuard™ guarded knives; Surgical Specialties Corp., www.surgicalspecialties.com TechnoCut Plus safety scalpel; Myco Medical, www.MYCOMedical.com Safety Scalpel, PL Medical Co, LLC, www.plmedical.com/public/Catalog_Safety_Retractable.htm Ribbel Safe Single Use Scalpel; Ribbell International LTD; www.ribbel.com BladeEnvelop; GMA Industries LLC; www.gmainds.com Safety Scalpel; Xodus Medical; www.xodusmedical.com Blade Envelope Reusable Safety Scalpel System,; GMA Industries, LLC.; http://www.safezoneglobal.com/page5.html
Scalpels, Weighted One of the most frequent complaints about safety scalpels is that they lack the feel and weight of a standard scalpel. Since doctors make their living by being able to feel the blade as they make an incision, some manufacturers have produced safety scalpels that are weighted to feel like a conventional scalpel.
Sandel Weighted Safety Scalpel with Protective Safety Shield; Sandell Medical, www.sandelmedical.com Blade Envelope Reusable Safety Scalpel System,; GMA Industries, LLC.; http://www.safezoneglobal.com/page5.html
Scalpel Blade Remover Removal of scalpel blades by hand is a practice that increases exposure to bloodborne and contact pathogens and oftentimes leads to percutaneous injury. New methods of removing a scalpel blade from its holder will prevent these sharps injuries from occurring.
Scalpel Holder Scalpel holder's provide protection from accidental sharps injuries by holding the scalpel in a safe position preventing accidental cuts or sticks.
Scalpel Handle, Protective Safety One of the newest categories of safety products, the protective safety scalpel handles allow clinician to use choice of scalpel blade and has the same weight and feel as a conventional scalpel blade and yet covers up the blade after each use.
Scalpel Handle, Safety Reusable Metal Some of the newer safety scalpel systems provide innovative methods to remove the scalpel blade without risking sharps injury.
Segment Sampling Devices After receiving donated blood, blood bank personnel routinely will take a syringe and needle to obtain a fluid sample from the small tubing so they can create a cell suspension. Needlestick injuries routinely occur during this process. Newer technologies are present that can access the blood without compromising the safety of the clinician.
Self-sealing Capillary Tubes Conventional capillary tubes have to be pushed into clay to seal the send of the tube. FDA, NIOSH and OSHA all recommend products that use a method of sealing that does not require manually pushing one end of the tube into putty to form a plug. Products in this category do not require a clay plug.
Serum Dispenser Prevent spillage and increase personal safety. Serum dispensers fit all standard 13mm blood collection tubes. A small opening allows dispensing of serum in a drop-like fashion. They replace the rubber stopper and permit easy sampling without the hazards associated with open tube use.
Sharps Containers, Dialysis Clinicians in a dialysis deparment have unique sharps safety needs and need to be able to accomodate small and large sharps, including fistula needles.
Sharps Containers, Disposable Numerous areas in healthcare need to have a sharps collectors that meet their specific needs. The most commonly used sharps containers are disposable in nature, that is, they should be disposed of when they are three quarters full.
EPS Sharps Disposal; Medidose Inc., www.medidose.com GatorGuard Sharps Disposal Containers, SharpStar Sharps Disposal Containers, RENEWABLES™ Sharps Disposal Containers manufactured using recycled plastics,GATORGUARD™ In-Patient Room Sharps Containers,IN-ROOM™ System with Always-Open Lids,IN-ROOM™ System with Mailbox-Style Lids, IN-ROOM™ System with SHARPSTAR™ Counterbalance Door,IN-ROOM™ System with SHARPSTAR™ Lift Assisted Lid, SHARPS-A-GATOR™ Tortuous Path Sharp Containers, SHARPSTAR™ IV 3 & 4 Gallon Sharps Container with SHARPSTAR™ Counterbalance Door,Horizontal-Drop Opening Lids, MONOJECT™ Sharps Containers, Multi-Purpose Sharps Container, SHARPS-A-GATOR™ Sharps Collection & Disposal Systems, ENVIROSTAR™ non-infectious waste sharps disposal container ; Covidien, www.kendallsharpsafety.com Multi-Safe Disposal Box; Sarstedt, www.sarstedt.com Sharps Secure® sharps collection system for public restrooms;Sharps Compliance Inc., www.sharpsinc.com Sharps Sentinel Cover, Patient Room System, Phlebotomy & Multi-Use Containers, Wall Cabinet System, Large Volume & Chemotherapy Containers; Bemis Medical, www.bemis.com
Sharps Containers, Large Volume Healthcare workers and others need to be able to use a sharps disposal container to place needles and other sharps into as mandated by law. Large products such as endoscopic instruments need a safe place for disposal.
Sharps Containers, Mail-back Mail-Back sharps containers help to provide a safe, cost-effective method of containment and disposal of medical waste for many light users of sharps including home health care, dental and physician offices, satellite healthcare facilities, health clubs, and hotels. Simply put the sharps into the container, seal it up, and ship it! Over 8 million people use needles and syringes to manage medical conditions at home each year. Home-generated needles and other sharps thrown into household waste present a great risk to sanitation and sewage treatment workers, janitors, housekeepers, children – even pets. Some municipalitys are now setting laws into place to govern home sharps disposal. A Mail-back sharps container helps meet these requirements. Once the container is full it is shipped to a manufacturer that destroys the sharps container and its contents.
Sharps Containers, Pharmaceutical Pharmaceutical and oncology departments have some specific needs for sharps safety and must meet regulations for pharmaceutical waste. According to CDC/NIOSH, as many as one-third of all sharps injuries are related to the disposal process. Sharps disposal systems that meet certain criteria can help reduce the risk of sharps injury.
Sharps Containers, Reusable Rather than disposing of a sharps container when it is filled, some organizations use a reusable sharps disposal container. Each time a reusable sharps disposal container is returned to service after reprocessing, the user facility should confirm that it meets its original performance elements. In addition, reusable sharps disposal containers should be rendered free of infectious organisms and infectious material each time they are reprocessed and before they are returned to service.
Sharps Securing Device There are times when an integrated safety needle is not available for a specific need. During times like this, it is important to provide sharp securement.
Shielded Syringe A shielded syringe provides protection to healthcare workers by providing a shield that covers the needle and is locked into place preventing reuse of the syringe.
Slide Preparation - Blood Dispenser After collecting blood, it is necessary to remove the stopper of a tube of blood when making a smear on a microscope slide. New technologies eliminate the need to remove the stopper of a tube of blood when making a smear. This eliminates the potential of a hazardous release of airborne pathogens.
Skin Stapler, Non-metal After using metal skin staples to close an incision or laceration the metal staples had to be removed post-operatively creating accidental sharps injury opportunities. New skin closure technologies exist where an absorbable skin staple is used that has the rapid closure times associated with metal skin staplers, while eliminating the need for metal staple removal post-operatively.
Skin Stapler Remover Disposable skin staple removers are designed to provide fast and easy removal of surgical skin staples while protecting the hands of the clinician.
Solidification Products It has been recommend from OSHA that healthcare workers take all possible precautions from direct exposure to infectious liquids. Solidification products absorb and encapsulate blood, vomit, or any fluid with at least 6% water content.
Spinal Trays Safety-engineered spinal trays have components that make procedures safer for anesthesia personnel by providing safety products to minimize the risk of sharps injuries or bloodborne pathogen exposure.
Splash Protection There are times when there is a need to sheild a clinician from aerosol sprays and splashes of biological fluids. Plastic shields are available to act as a transparent barrier to biohazard splashes, aerosols and sprays for healthcare professionals and lab technicians.
Staple Remover
Sternum Closing Device Closing the sternum manually places risk on the patient for inadvertent puncture injuries to the heart, lungs, and underlying vasculature. Newer technologies can reduce these risks as well as the risk of sternal bleeding and make it easier to close the sternum.
Strainers Rather than reach by hand into a container contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious material, a strainer can be used to pick up products.
Striped Syringe for Labeling Safety Write-on stripes provide an easy means to label a syringe. This protects patients by helping to reduce medication labeling errors.
Suction Canister System In one study it was found that about 40 percent of the infectious waste from hospital operating rooms is suction canister waste. Suction canisters hold body fluids and saline solution that are suctioned out of a patient by an aspirator during surgical procedures and patient care. Newer technologies provide safety methods of the disposal of suction canister contents.
Surgical Clippers Pre-operative hair removal used to mean shaving the surgical site prior to procedures. It is now recommended by AORN and CDC that the area NOT be shaved but that it should be clipped if necessary. This pre-operative hair removal using surgical clippers offers many benefits over razors including a higher quality of care and improved comfort for patients. It will also lower infection rates which should make both patients and hospital administrators happy.
Surgical Floor Aspirator During a surgical procedure towels or mats are placed on the floor to absorb and clean up body fluids. Newer technologies are avaialbe that can eliminate this by aspirating the fluids into a container.
Surgical Instrument Organizer Products Sharp injury potential can be miniminzed when the surgical instruments are organized with their tips away from the practitioner. Products are available to help surgical staff better organize sharps instruments.
Surgical Instrument Transfer Products To avoid the use of hand-to-hand transfer of sharps instruments, safety products are available to transfer commonly used sharp instruments in the surgical setting. Rather than passing it from one clinicians hand into another, the clinician simply sets the sharps into a transfer tray and then removes his hand. The technician or nurse can then retrieve the sharp safely.
Surgical Safety Products There are a number of safety products that can be used to reduce the potential of sharps injuries in the surgical suite.
Syringe Labeling for Safety Write-on stripes provide an easy means to label a syringe. This protects patients by helping to reduce medication labeling errors.
Syringe Management System This group of safety products is a "point-of-care” automated syringe and sharps disposal system that completely extracts the needle from the syringe body. Following an injection, the syringe and needle are dropped into the management system where the needle is removed from the syringe and dropped into a special internal sharps container.
Temporary Sharps Containers At times it is difficult to have a sharps container right next to where a medical procedure is being performed. A temporary sharps container is one that contains sharp needle points during the course of a procedure. The temporary sharps container is then transported to a sharps container to be destroyed.
Thoracentesis Trays with Safety Components Thoracentesis, sometimes known as a pleural tap is an invasive procedure to remove fluid or air from the pleural space for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. A local anesthetic is inserted into the injection site. A hollow needle is carefully introduced into the thorax where fluid or air is removed. There are thoracentesis trays that feature safety components to minimize the sharps injiuries and bloodborne pathogen exposure.
Tissue Grinding Systems Disposable Tissue Grinder Systems provide a disposable system that requires no clean-up or sterilization required after grinding and contains any aerosolization created during grinding.
Topical Anesthetic Device Topical anesthetic devices provide a local analgesia that numbs the skin prior to the administration of superficial dermatological procedures such as venipuncture (drawing blood with a needle from a vein usually in the forearm), intravenous cannulation (administration of fluids and/or medications), and laser ablation (high power laser pulses) of superficial skin lesions. Some of the topical anesthetic devices use an active transdermal delivery technology known as iontophoresis, which administers medications through the skin via a mild electric current. This allows for the administration of medication including anesthetics through the skin.
Tourniquet, Latex-free Using a latex-free tourniquet on only one patient followed by its disposal reduces the spread of nosocomial infection. It can also reduce the risk of cross-contamination between patients and healthcare workers. It also helps your organization be in compliance with OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogen Standard.
Colorful Latex-free Tourniquet, Marketlab, www.marketlab.com Transfer Fluid Devices It is often necessary to transfer fluids from one container to another to dilute, reconstitute or add drugs.
Tuberculin Syringe A Tuberculin syringe will only hold up to 1 ml. It is very useful and appropriate for measuring any amount equal or less than one ml.
Tube Stopper Remover When removing the stopper from blood and specimen tubes it is not uncommon to aerosolize the sample or receive a splash when the stopper comes out of the tube. Stopper remover's are designed to remove rubber stoppers and reduce blood-borne pathogens exposure.
Tympanocentesis Speculum Tympanocentesis is defined as the drainage of fluid from the middle ear by using a small gauge needle to puncture the tympanic membrane or eardrum. Newer technologies provide a safe method for protecting both patient and clinician from accidental needle stick injuries.
Umbilical Catheter Tray with Safety Components Umbilical catheters allow the continuous blood pressure monitoring of a neonate while maintaining the ability to administering medications, volume expanders and antibiotics. The use of safety components in a kit protect both clinician and patient.
Umbilical Line Draw Umbilical Line Draw allows for blood sampling directly from the umbilical cord or an arterial line.
Urine Sampling and Collection Sometimes it is necessary to obtain a urine sample from a drainage bag. There are products that have needleless urine sampling ports and only require a standard lower slip tip syringe with no needle. In addition there are other products that can obtain urine samples without involving a sharp.
Urine Monovette®; Sarstedt, www.sarstedt.com Uri-Cath™ Set; Utah Medical Products Inc., www.Utahmed.com Bard® Urine Drain Bag with Bard® Safety-Flow™ Outlet Device; Bard Medical, www.bardmedical.com
Vascular Access Kits with Safety Components Kits providing safety products that help minimize the risk of sharps injuries associated with gaining vascular access.
Vascular Visualization New technologies are now available that allow physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals to visualize veins through the skin allowing access to the vasculature without multiple sticks. This can prevent needlestick injuries by reducing the number of sticks necessary to achieve vascular access.
Vial Access Adapters The standard method of withdrawing fluid from a medicine vial unnecessarily exposes healthcare workers to needlestick injuries. This is typically done by pushing a needle into the rubber stopper of the vial and turning the vial upside down. Air is injected into the vial. The syringe plunger is withdrawn pulling medicine into the syringe. After removing any unwanted air the syringe is used to make an injection. Newer devices eliminate the needle and allow withdrawal of medicine directly into the syringe without exposing healthcare workers to needlestick injuries.
SmartSite® needle-free system; Cardinal Health; http://www.cardinal.com/alaris/OEM/products/smartsite/ Safe-Fill Vial Adaptors, Medtec Medical; www.medtecmedical.com
Vial Holder One of the challenges of removing medication from a vial is that someone has to hold the vial while a syringe and needle are directed toward their hand! A vial holder safely holds the vial in position while the needle and syringe are directed towards the rubber stopper. No one is required to be in the line of fire any longer.
Winged Set for Blood Collection Designed for safe access to the vasculature, Safety Winged Sets for Blood collection allow for access to a patient's vasculature while protecting the clinician following removal from patient's vein.
VAKU-8 Plus Safety Blood Collection Set;Unolok Plus Safety Winged Infusion Set; MYCO Medical Supplies, Inc.; www.mycomedical.com
Winged Set for Infusion Designed for safe access to the vasculature, Safety Winged Sets for infusion allow for access to a patient's vasculature while protecting the clinician following removal from patient's vein.
Wound Closure, Glue Cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive have been used for years to form a strong bond across apposed wound edges, allowing normal healing to occur below. It canbe used to replace sutures that are for incisional or laceration repair. This adhesive has been shown to save time during wound repair, to provide a flexible water-resistant protective coating and to eliminate the need for suture removal.
Wound Closure, Other After using metal skin staples to close an incision or laceration the metal staples had to be removed post-operatively creating accidental sharps injury opportunities. New skin closure technologies exist where an absorbable skin staple is used that has the rapid closure times associated with metal skin staplers, while eliminating the need for metal staple removal post-operatively.
Wound Closure, Tape Pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes have been used for closing minor wounds or covering abrasions for a number of years. In some instances, microporous or breathable, pressure-sensitive tapes have been developed and are used to cover minor wounds or wounds that have been partially healed. At times such tapes have been used in conjunction with sutures to close major wounds. In other cases the wound is initially closed with sutures or staples which are removed a few days after surgery and the wound is then supported or reinforced with surgical tape. Such a practice allows drainage of the wound and very often improves the cosmetic results of the surgery.
Wound Closure Technologies New technologies for sealing tissues that supplement or replace traditional methods of wound closure. These alternate technologies include taping systems, synthetic super glues, energy-based modalities capable of melding tissues together and a variety of alternative technologies that can replace traditional sutures and staples.
Wound Irrigation Wound irrigation has typically been accomplished with a syringe and a hypodermic needle to generate the 8-12 psi fluid stream that is recommended for cleaning out wounds. This standard method, unfortunately, also showers the clinician with splashed irrigation fluid that is contaminated with the patient’s blood. This presents an unacceptable exposure to mucocutaneous splashes and the potential of an accidental needlestick from the hypodermic needle. New systems can quickly deliver irrigation solutions that can adequately cleanse the wound without the use of a needle.
Wound Irrigation Basin It is important to capture blood and irrigating fluid when cleansing a wound. Safety products are available that retain fluid run off so that it does not contaminate the healthcare worker and others.
Author’s Note: Even with months of preparation, this list is incomplete but the author believes that it contains more safety products and categories than has previously been assembled in one list. The intent is to include all safety products that are currently available in the marketplace. The author is indebted to those that have provided information on safety products. Note: This list is copyrighted by ISIPS and may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the author. Please contact the author to add additional company and product names at info@isips.org. © 2009 ISIPS, International Sharps Injury Prevention Society and Ron Stoker List last updated November 12, 2009 |
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