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Infection Prevention
Needles, Syringes and Sharps Safety

Safe injection practices and needlestick protocol

An integral part of any infection prevention program and help reduce the risk of bloodborne pathogen transmission

The importance of sharps safety

The CDC estimates that each year, hospital-based healthcare personnel sustain 385,000 needlesticks and other sharps-related injuries.¹

A lack of safe injection practices and needlestick protocols puts patients and healthcare providers at risk to transmit bloodborne pathogens, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Healthcare professionals must carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use for single-use and disposable injection devices to prevent the potential transmission of bloodborne pathogens.

Chances of Infection from a Contaminated Sharps Injury

1 in 5

for Hepatitis B
(if unvaccinated)

1 in 50

for Hepatitis C

1 in 300

for HIV

OSHA Regulations

Osha regulations require healthcare facilities to implement an exposure control plan for the following items:

Engineering and work practice controls

Providing staff with appropriate PPE and equipment

Regular training

Surveillance

Employee vaccinations for hepatitis B

Bloodborne pathogen standards

Annual review of new sharps technologies

Principles of safe injection practices

Unsafe injection practices can happen in a number of different settings, including home care and infusion settings. Principles of safe injection practices include:

Use proper hand hygiene immediately before preparing and administering medications
Use an aseptic technique in a clean area for injection preparation
Use a new needle for each patient
Disinfect the vial top before each use
Use a new needle and a new syringe each time you enter a medication vial, even if the patient receives multiple doses
Dedicate single-use medication vials, ampules and bags/bottles of IV solutions
Provide each patient with their administration tubing and connectors
Dispose of contaminated sharps in a marked sharps container per federal regulations

Featured Products

Needles and syringes

Safety Hypodermic Syringe with Needle McKesson Prevent® 3 mL 1 Inch 25 Gauge Hinged Safety Needle Ultra Thin Wall

McKesson Brand
#102-SN3C251S3

Safety Hypodermic Needle McKesson Prevent® HT 1 Inch Length 25 Gauge Thin Wall Hinged Safety Needle

McKesson Brand
#16-N251S

Safety Hypodermic Needle McKesson Prevent® HT 5/8 Inch Length 25 Gauge Thin Wall Hinged Safety Needle

McKesson Brand
#16-N2558S

Safety Hypodermic Syringe with Needle SafetyGlide™ 3 mL 1 Inch 23 Gauge Sliding Safety Needle Thin Wall

BD
#305905

Safety Hypodermic Syringe with Needle Eclipse™ 3 mL 1 Inch 25 Gauge Hinged Safety Needle Regular Wall

BD
#305787

Safety Hypodermic Syringe with Needle Eclipse™ 3 mL 1 Inch 23 Gauge Hinged Safety Needle Thin Wall

BD
#305782

Sharps Container McKesson Prevent® Translucent Red Base 10-3/4 H X 10-1/2 W X 4-3/4 D Inch Horizontal Entry 1.25 Gallon

McKesson Brand
#2262

Sharps Container McKesson Prevent® Red Base 11 H X 12 W X 4-3/4 D Inch Horizontal Entry 1.35 Gallon

McKesson Brand
#2269

Safety blood collection sets

McKesson Prevent® G Blood Collection Set 23 Gauge 3/4 Inch Needle Length Safety Needle 12 Inch Tubing Sterile

McKesson Brand
#16-BC2334

McKesson Prevent® G Blood Collection Set 21 Gauge 3/4 Inch Needle Length Safety Needle 12 Inch Tubing Sterile

McKesson Brand
#16-BC2134

BD Vacutainer® Safety-Lok™ Blood Collection Set 23 Gauge 3/4 Inch Needle Length Safety Needle 12 Inch Tubing Sterile

BD
#367283

BD Vacutainer® Safety-Lok™ Blood Collection Set 21 Gauge 3/4 Inch Needle Length Safety Needle 12 Inch Tubing Sterile

BD
#367281

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