Safe Injection Practices PDF

Safe Injection Practices Safe injection practices are essential to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and maintain patient safety. Proper hand hygiene, sterile equipment, and safe disposal of sharps are crucial for preventing the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. by Heba Rashed ...

Safe Injection Practices Safe injection practices are essential to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and maintain patient safety. Proper hand hygiene, sterile equipment, and safe disposal of sharps are crucial for preventing the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. by Heba Rashed  What is Injection Safety? Patient-to-Patient Patient-to-Provider Injection safety aims to Safety practices help stop disease spread prevent transmission of between patients. infections from a patient to a healthcare provider. Needlestick Prevention Safe Waste Disposal Injection safety Properly dispose of minimizes the risk of sharps and other waste needlestick injuries for to protect the healthcare workers. community.  Visual of Injection Safety The visual demonstrates best practices for a safe injection. All materials are single-use, needles are properly disposed of, and hands are sanitized. This practice helps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.  CDC Safe Injection Practices Aseptic Technique Single-Use Items Syringes, needles, and cannulas Strict adherence to aseptic are designed for single-use only. technique is essential to Reusing these items poses a prevent contamination of significant risk of contamination sterile injection equipment. and disease transmission. No Multi-Patient Use Avoid Reuse Even when the needle or Sterile injection equipment cannula is changed, never should not be reused for administer medications from another patient or to access a syringe to multiple medication for a subsequent patients. patient. Safe Injection Equipment Syringes Needles Vials Vials hold the medication for Syringes are the most common Needles are attached to injections. They come in single- equipment used for injections. syringes and are used to dose and multi-dose options. They are designed for single penetrate the skin and deliver use only. the medication.  Single-Use Injection Practices One Patient Use Discard After Use 1 Single-use vials should 2 Dispose of single-use be used for one patient only. vials appropriately after administration. No Combining 4 Do Not Reuse 3 Leftover Contents Do not administer Do not combine leftover medication from single- contents from single-dose dose vials to multiple vials. patients. Multi-Dose Vial Practices Sterile Equipment Single Source When using multi-dose vials, both the needle and Bags or bottles of intravenous solution should not be syringe must be sterile. This ensures that no used as a common source of supply for multiple contaminants are introduced into the vial. patients. This practice increases the risk of cross- contamination. Proper storage of multi-dose vials is crucial to maintaining sterility. Store vials according to the manufacturer's recommendations, and discard any vials if sterility is compromised. Importance of Safe Practices Patient Safety Public Health Safe injection practices are crucial for preventing the Adhering to safe injection practices reduces the risk of transmission of infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B, outbreaks and protects the health of the community. hepatitis C, and HIV. Outbreak Statistics Viral Total Outbreak Persons Hepatitis Outbreaks Associated Notified for Outbreaks Cases Screening (2008-2012) Hepatitis B 19 153 > 10,000 Hepatitis C 16 160 > 90,000 Risks in Clinics Outbreak Statistics Recidivism In a study of ASCs, 9 outbreaks were linked to unsafe Studies show that a small percentage of healthcare injection practices. Over 60,000 patients were tested professionals may reuse needles and syringes. This for hepatitis and HIV. An additional 106 potential demonstrates the need for continued education and infections were identified. awareness to ensure safe injection practices are followed. How Does it Happen??? Understanding the Basics of Transmission Transmission of bloodborne pathogens can occur in many ways. 1 Contact Direct contact with infected blood. 2 Indirect Exposure to contaminated materials, needles, and surfaces. 3 Aerosol Exposure to airborne particles containing infected blood. The specific mode of transmission varies depending on the pathogen, the specific circumstances, and the actions taken. Transmission of Pathogens Via Contaminated Equipment or Medications Contaminated equipment or medication poses a significant risk for transmitting infections. The use of non-sterile needles, syringes, and other equipment can lead to the spread of bloodborne pathogens. Incorrect Practices Resulting in Transmission 1 Syringe Reuse 2 Shared IV Fluid A syringe used for one A common bag of IV fluid patient should never be or an IV set should not be reused for another shared between multiple patient, even with a new patients. needle. 3 Medication Vial Access A medication vial should not be accessed with a syringe that has already been used to administer medication to a patient. Prevention Techniques Standard Precautions Aseptic Technique Healthcare providers should Use aseptic technique for follow standard precautions, handling parenteral including hand hygiene and medications, administering personal protective injections, and sampling equipment. blood. Single-Dose Vials Use single-dose vials for parenteral medications, whenever possible, to eliminate the risk of contamination. Size Does Not Matter Single-dose vials (SDVs) and multi-dose vials (MDVs) come in various shapes and sizes. Do not assume a vial's type based on its size or volume of medication. Always check the label for accurate identification. Source Information The Southern Nevada Health District is a leading source of information on safe injection practices. The Health District offers comprehensive resources and training programs to educate healthcare professionals about safe injection practices. Single Dose Vials (SDV) Single dose vials (SDV) are SDVs typically lack designed for a single injection preservatives. Never save or procedure. leftover medication. Harmful bacteria can grow in Always discard SDVs after a unused portions, posing a risk single use. This is crucial for to patients. patient safety. Multiple-Dose Vial (MDV) 1 1. FDA-Approved Label 2 2. Single Patient Ideal A multiple-dose vial Even though MDVs are (MDV) is easily designed for multiple recognized by its FDA- uses, ideally they are approved label. used for only one patient. 3 3. Preservative 4 4. Discard MDVs typically contain a Discard MDVs when the preservative to limit beyond-use date is bacterial growth, but not reached, or if the sterility bloodborne viruses. of the vial is questionable. Importance of Reading Labels All vials and syringes should have proper labeling, including information about the contents. Thorough examination of labels is essential for confirming the correct medication and dosage before administering the injection. Prevention Guidelines Single-Use Items Single-Dose Vial (SDV) Multiple-Dose Vial (MDV) Needles, cannulae, and syringes are Dispose of a single-dose vial once it Thoroughly check the expiration sterile and designed for one-time has been accessed with a needle. date and visually inspect an MDV for use only. Reusing these items poses This ensures no contamination any signs of contamination before significant risks to patient safety. occurs. use. Discard if there are concerns. Injection Safety Steps New Needle/Syringe Hand Hygiene Disinfecting Vials Clean Surface Use a fresh needle and Clean your hands before Rub the top of the Draw up medication on a syringe for every injection. touching medications. medication vial with clean, uncontaminated alcohol before drawing. surface. REALIZE WHAT IS AT STAKE Failing to practice safe injection techniques presents a significant risk. The consequences of unsafe practices can be severe and impact both individuals and healthcare facilities. For patients, unsafe practices can lead to serious infections, hospitalization, and even death. Healthcare facilities may face legal action, financial penalties, and reputational damage. Visual Example This image shows a healthcare worker preparing a single-dose vial for injection. This demonstrates a safe and sterile injection practice. Case Study: Oklahoma Clinic Single Syringe 1 Anesthetist filled a single syringe with sedation medication. Multiple Patients 2 Medication was used to treat up to 24 sequential patients. Heparin Locks 3 Medication was administered through heparin locks. Two Year Investigation 4 Serologic results for 88% of patients were reviewed. The investigation revealed a high rate of clinic-associated infections, including HCV and HBV. The clinic ultimately faced a $25 million settlement. Oklahoma Health Department The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) played a crucial role in investigating the outbreak. They were responsible for collecting data, identifying the source of the outbreak, and issuing public health recommendations to prevent further spread. The OSDH worked closely with the CDC and other healthcare professionals to ensure that appropriate measures were taken to protect public health. Final Thoughts Safe Injection Practices are Essential Adhering to safe injection practices is critical for preventing infectious disease outbreaks and protecting patient health.