Transcript AMIC-Sharps-Prevention

SHARPS INJURY PREVENTION
Learning Objectives
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Identify the different types of sharps.
Identify risks posed by needles and other sharps.
Recall safe practices for needles and other sharps.
Recognize sharps that have engineered sharps injury
protection.
Know what Personal Protective Equipment includes.
Know how to report an exposure incident.
Sharps - Definition
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Definition: any needles, syringes with
needles, scalpels, blades, broken ampules or
other articles that could cause wounds or
punctures to personnel handling them.
Must be discarded into special containers
without risk to disposal personnel.
Risks Posed by Sharps
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Transmission of blood borne pathogens to
someone injured by the sharp.
Between 600,000 and 800,000 sharp injuries
occur among healthcare workers annually
according to OSHA.
Blood Borne Pathogen Transmission
Sharps injuries can be associated with occupational
transmission of more than 20 blood borne pathogens:
 Most common pathogens:
 Hepatitis B (HBV)
 Hepatitis C (HCV)
 Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
 Sharps injuries can lead to serious or fatal infections.
Culture of Safety
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About ½ of sharp injuries go unreported.
A culture of safety should be promoted by:
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Reporting injuries and hazards.
Supporting involvement of staff in selection of
sharps injury prevention devices.
Providing education and training on sharps injury
prevention.
Sharps that Frequently Cause Injury
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Hypodermic needles
Blood collection needles
Suture needles
Needles used in IV delivery systems
Glass capillary tubes
Used disposable razors
Who is at Risk?
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Physicians
Nurses
Lab technicians
Phlebotomists
Mid-level providers
Housekeepers
Laundry personnel
And others
Procedures Linked to Injuries
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Drawing blood
IM injections
IV access
Suturing
Handling laundry
Collecting filled sharps containers
And more
OSHA Requirements
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Occupational Exposure to bloodborne
pathogens (29 CFR §1910.1030)
Revised in January 2001
Covers all occupational exposure to blood and
other potentially infectious material
Available at www.osha.gov
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
Healthcare facilities must:
 Develop and periodically review an exposure
control plan.
 Offer safer medical devices to reduce or
eliminate exposure incidents.
 Seek employee input in selection of safer
medical devices and implementation of work
practice controls.
 Offer the Hep B vaccine to workers.
Exposure Control Plan
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OSHA requires healthcare providers to:
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Identify jobs and tasks in which occupational
exposure to blood or other potentially infectious
material occurs.
Consider and implement safer medical devices.
Seek input from healthcare workers in
identification, evaluation and selection of safer
medical devices and work practice controls.
Update plan annually.
Methods to Reduce Exposure
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Follow standard precautions.
Use engineering and work practice controls.
Wear personal protective equipment.
Avoid recapping, bending or breaking of
needles and sharps.
Standard Precautions
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CDC recommends standard precautions:
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Assume all blood and body fluids are infectious.
Every patient is treated as potentially infected
with a bloodborne pathogen.
All healthcare workers must use standard
precautions whenever there is a chance of
exposure to blood or other potentially infectious
material.
Workers must use hand hygiene!
Safe Practices
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Avoid recapping, bending or breaking needles and
sharps.
Use a one hand technique if medical procedure
requires recapping.
Place used sharps immediately into punctureresistant containers.
Carry sealed specimen containers in an outer
container.
Avoid touching contaminated broken glass
with bare hands.
Safe Medical Device
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A protective device that can be used to
protect healthcare workers from accidental
needlesticks and other sharp injuries.
Generally take the same form and are used for
the same application as their traditional nonsafety counterparts, EXCEPT:
Protective devices are designed to prevent
personnel from coming into contact with an
exposed needle or other sharp.
Two Types of Safer Medical Devices
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Needleless systems, such as needleless IV line
connectors;
Sharps with engineered sharps injury
protection, such as self-sheathing needles on
syringes.
NOW YOU SEE IT. NOW YOU DON’T.
Needleless Systems
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Device that does not use a needle for
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Collection of body fluids
Administration of medication/fluids; or
Any other procedure with potential percutaneous
exposure to a contaminated sharp.
Needleless System
Engineered Sharps Injury Protection
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Non-needle sharps or needle devices with
built-in safety features or mechanisms that
reduce the risk of exposure incidents.
Uses:
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Withdrawing body fluids
Accessing a vein or artery
Administering medications or other fluids
Example of Hypodermic Syringe with
Retractable technology
Example of Phlebotomy Needle with
Self-blunting Feature
Needleguard Safety Feature
Personal Protective Equipment
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PPE
Equipment worn to minimize exposure to
infectious materials or chemicals.
Required by the Bloodborne Pathogens
Standard if exposure to blood and other
potentially infectious materials is anticipated.
pps://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/haz
ards/ppe/ppe.html
Protective Clothing
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Know where protective wear is stored
Gloves, gowns, mask, face protector, etc.
Risks of Glass Capillary Tubes
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Used to collect blood
Break when inserted into putty
Break during centrifugation
Replace with non-glass material or
Wrap in puncture-resistant film or
Look at products that can measure Hematocrit
without a centrifuge.
Sharp Disposal Containers
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All contaminated sharps must be discarded in
a sharps container – OSHA requirement
Place sharps in container immediately after
use.
Place containers in patient rooms.
Do not overfill container.
Follow your practice’s procedures for
disposal of sharps and container.
Exposure Incident
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An exposure incident has occurred if
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Blood or other potentially infectious material (not
your own) has come into direct contact with your
eyes, mouth, mucous membranes or open
wounds; or
You have punctured your skin with a
contaminated sharp object.
Exposure Incident
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Report all exposures
Complete necessary paperwork to help
document exposure.
Employer will provide a medical evaluation,
counseling, treatments, information, etc. as
needed for you.
Post-exposure
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Hepatitis vaccine is recommended if you have
not been vaccinated.
Post-exposure prophylaxis should be started if
clinically indicated. E.g.. HIV should be started
within hours after exposure.
SUMMARY
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Use devices with safety features. Know how
to use them.
Never recap needles.
Always dispose of used and contaminated
sharps immediately in the proper container.
Be aware of hazards of non-needle sharps:
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Broken glass, scalpels, blades, etc.
Report all sharp related injuries.
Resources
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OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Fact Sheet:
https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_Bloodbo
rneFacts/bbfact01.pdfA:
CDC:
https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_Bloodbo
rneFacts/bbfact01.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety/pdf/sharpss
afety_poster3.pdf