| Welcome to the ISIPS Newsletter |
August 11, 2006 |
View Today's Health News - click here!
| USA News |
Local man arrested for trying to stab cop
A Framingham man tried to stab a cop Tuesday with a hypodermic needle filled with a mixture of heroin and cocaine, but was arrested after he dropped the needle when he was pepper-sprayed, police said.
'I am living with HIV, but it's not easy'
HIV is no longer and automatic death sentence, but it is not an easy illness. A new book offers practical advice.
Successful Anti-HIV Program Targets Hispanic Teens
A tailored HIV-prevention program that emphasized both abstinence and condom use has proven effective for Hispanic youth in Philadelphia...
IV drug use rises in Indiana teens, IU survey says
The number of Indiana high school seniors who say they have shot up heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs has hit an all-time high, according to new Indiana University findings that are backed by drug counselors.
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Global News |
Romania's Forgotten HIV-Positive Children
Thousands of young Romanians with HIV do not attend school or have access to proper medical care, Human Rights Watch said in a report on discrimination against the infected children.
HIV INCREASINGLY STRIKING WOMEN IN ASIA
Women in East Asia are contracting HIV at a faster rate than in the rest of the world, and there's a worrying new trend in Thailand...
INDIAN REDUCTION IN HIV FIGURES NO MIRACLE
India, home to the second largest number of people infected with the HIV virus, dropped a bombshell last week when it declared that new cases...
South Africa: Toronto - Time to Deliver
Unlike post-exposure prophylaxis which is administered after potential exposure to HIV such as a needle-stick injury, PREP is intended to prevent HIV infection...
40 million living with HIV/AIDS
Left untreated, AIDS is eventually fatal; however, life-prolonging antiretroviral drugs have begun to transform HIV from an inescapable death sentence into a...
HIV spreads to all of Beijing's 18 districts, counties
More than 300 new HIV/AIDS cases have been confirmed in Beijing over the last six months, bringing the total number of local residents who are HIV/AIDS positive to 3,142.
| Avian Flu |
16-year-old becomes latest case of human bird flu in Indonesia
A fresh case of human avian flu has been reported in Indonesia. The patient is a 16-year-old boy who tested positive for the dreaded H5N1 virus at the Sulianto Saroso Hospital for Infectious Disease in Jakarta. He was earlier treated at a Cikarang hospital before being moved to Jakarta.
Thai officials go door-to-door to prevent bird flu
In an effort to prevent another deadly bird flu outbreak, Thai officials began visiting every home in 29 provinces to pass on information about preventing the...
Animal Health Department has culled 53 storks in the Suoi Tien Tourism Zone after receiveing two positive results from tests for the H5N1 bird flu virus in...
29 Thai provinces bird flu-hit
Thailand's Government on Tuesday declared 29 central and north-eastern provinces as bird flu disaster zone as part of measures to curb the epidemic...
3 suspected bird flu patients admitted to hospital in Thailand
Three persons were admitted to hospital in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, on Tuesday on suspicion of contracting bird flu virus, an official of the Bangkok...
VanishPoint® Blood Collection Tube Holder
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Automated retraction is activated by securely closing end cap while needle is still in patient's vein
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Once activated, needle is automatically retracted from patient, virtually eliminating exposure
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Single use holder protects users from both ends of contaminated blood collection needles
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Utilizes conventional multiple sample blood collection needles and prevents cross contamination
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Capable of multi-tube blood draws
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Small diameter tube adapter available for use with small diameter tubes
Click here for more information.
The Biojector® 2000 is an innovative, versatile needle-free injection system that has been used to deliver millions of injections in a wide range of healthcare settings. The Biojector has many unique features, including the ability to deliver both intramuscular and subcutaneous injections up to 1 mL in volume. Since its introduction in 1993, the Biojector has set a new standard for the comfort, safety, and convenience of injection equipment.
The Biojector has FDA clearance for delivering subcutaneous or intramuscular injections of liquid medication, including vaccines and other injected medications.
Because there is no needle, the Biojector provides healthcare workers with an unparalleled level of protection against accidental needlestick injuries. In high-risk situations, such as delivering injections to patients known to be infected with HIV or Hepatitis, the Biojector is an ideal injection system.
The Biojector works by the same principle as all of Bioject's needle-free injection systems: by forcing liquid medication through a tiny orifice that is held against the skin. This creates a very fine, high-pressure stream of medication that penetrates the skin, depositing medication in the tissue beneath.
For more information click here.
Starr Systems, LLC is dedicated to the safety of both patient and health care providers. We are introducing our Disposable Ampoule Breaker.
This unique tool fully encapsulates the tip of a glass ampoule as it is being opened. This encapsulation protects the health care provider from lacerations while saving money by preventing the loss of pharmaceutical product and health care provider downtime. For more information on this unique product call 620-242-2377 or email lstarr@starsystemsllc.com
Examining the past, for the future
Five years ago, in an article titled Scent of the plague, published in the Mail & Guardian (June 29 2001), I summarised my experiences as a doctor working in a health service faced with the plague of HIV infection among children in South Africa.
SYRINGE FURY
WARRNAMBOOL City Council has lashed out at those responsible for dumping more than 30 syringes in a river and on a city centre street in the past week.
Mother convicted of hiding HIV status for son's birth
An Ontario mother has been convicted for hiding her HIV status, which denied doctors the chance to treat her baby and possibly prevent her newborn son from...
Wow! After checking what year it was, I felt compelled, as a registered nurse who is certified in infection control, to respond to Dr. Peter Gott’s inaccurate information (about hand sanitation for medical workers, LJS, Aug. 1). First, hand hygiene saves lives! The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published the Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-Care Settings in December 2002.
Dialysis patients infected with Hepatitis C
At least twenty one patients have been infected with the dangerous type C hepatitis virus in a dialysis centre in the western city of Ostrow Wielkopolski.
At 65, AIDS is just one more thing Lee, who asked to be identified only by his middle name, has to take medication for, along with "high sugar, high blood pressure and my heart," he said. This particular morning, the father of 10 grown children said, he forgot to take his medicines.
20 police trainees found sick with Hepatitis-B in C. Mindanao
Twenty police trainees were found positive of Hepatitis-B and were ordered back to the regional police headquarters, Chief Supt.
Weight loss may improve the efficacy of therapy for hepatitis C
Obese patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus ( HCV ) and treated with combination drug therapy may have better outcomes if the underlying...
Naughty Lyrics Prompt Teens to be Naughty"
Youths ages 12-17 who listen to music with degrading and explicit lyrics are more likely to be involved in an intimate manner at an earlier age than peers who listen to lyrics where intimacy is depicted less explicitly, a new study suggests. Researchers surveyed 1,461 teens by telephone in 2001 and conducted follow-up interviews in 2002 and 2004.
Needle scaree mum's worst nightmare
KAREN HOINVILLE yesterday described her horror at rushing son Sam to hospital to be test- ed for HIV and hepatitis B and C after he pricked himself with a junkie’s needle.
Dirty needles litter Lake Villa Township
And all just a few feet from where children play off Sarah Drive near Mary Drive in the Lake Villa Township right-of-way. The syringes and needles washed down the ditch and then followed a swale into some empty lots that have grown over and become a forest.
Hospital launches ‘clean hands’ drive
General Hosp-ital yesterday launched a Hand Hygiene Campaign with the message that "clean hands save lives".
Tainted blood plaintiff breaks silence on name
One of the plaintiffs claiming to have been infected with the hepatitis C virus from contaminated blood products broke his anonymity as the trial at the Tokyo District Court concluded Tuesday.
Homeless get safety kits to help prevent hepatitis
The first batch of safety kits assembled to help prevent the spread of hepatitis in O'ahu's homeless population has been distributed at the Next Step shelter in Kaka'ako.
Man allegedly stole used needles
Hospital staff helped authorities arrest a man Tuesday who was stealing used needles in the hope of finding residual amounts of drugs, police said Wednesday.
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Type of Institution /Location |
Bloodborne Pathogen Standard Violation |
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General Medical and Surgical Hospitals Edenton, NC $1,925 |
Failure to place personal protective equipment in an appropriately designated area or container for storage, washing, decontamination or disposal. Failure to use masks in combination with eye protection devices, such as goggles or glasses with solid side shields, or chin-length face shields, whenever splashes, spray, spatter, or droplets of blood or other potentially infectious materials may be generated and eye, nose, or mouth contamination can be reasonably anticipated. |
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Nursing Care Facilities Hurricane, WV $3,375 |
Failure to use engineering and work practice controls to eliminate or minimize employee exposure
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Nursing Care Facilities Spearfish, SD $1,375 |
Failure to use engineering and work practice controls to eliminate or minimize employee exposure
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Offices and Clinics of Doctors of Medicine Pittsburgh, PA $900 |
Failure to use engineering and work practice controls to eliminate or minimize employee exposure
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Offices and Clinics of Doctors of Medicine Washington Park, IL $1,500 |
Failure to have an Exposure Control Plan Failure to make the Hepatitis B vaccination available after the employee has received training and within 10 days after receiving work assignment.
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| ISIPS Corporate Members |
Please click on any ISIPS member below to view their sharps safety products!
Biomedical Safety Technologies
Tyco / Kendall Healthcare
B. Braun Medical
Needlestick
Prevention Tour
SuturTek Incorporated
Becton Dickinson
Inviro Medical Devices
Greiner Bio-One Gmbh
Immunization Branch,
California Department of Health Services
Smiths Medical/Portex, Inc.
Retractable Technologies,
Inc.
Terumo Medical Corporation
ANFIM - Association of Needle-free
Injection Manufacturers
APIS MEDICAL
Surgilance, Inc.
Disintegrator Products
SafeGard Medical Ltd.
AM LABS
Rita Medical Systems
Medi-Dose,
Inc. - EPS, Inc.
International Association of EMTs and
Paramedics
ITL Corporation
Eureka Sharps Disposal
Smiths Medical MD, Inc.
Bemis Mfg.- Healthcare Products Group
Medegen Medical
Perfecta Products, Inc.
Bioject Medical
Technologies, Inc.
Qlicksmart Pty Ltd
Milestone Scientific
Baxa Corporation
LIFE-SHIELD PRODUCTS, INC
LifeChoice Donor Services
SharpsFree
ClozeX Medical LLC
Specialized Health Products International
New York
University School of Medicine
RXTrocar Ltd.
AOHP - Association of Occupational Health
Professionals in Healthcare
Touro University
International (TUI)
CINA - Canadian Intravenous Nurses Association
Medical Device
Manufacturer (Thailand) Ltd.
RiTract Limited
Salvus
Technology Limited
Medi-Safe Surgicals (Pty) Ltd
Quality America, Inc.
Safety 1st Medical
Sarstedt
MYCO Medical
Health Care Logistics
Center for Phlebotomy Education
Managing Infection Control Magazine
The Society of Permanent Cosmetic
Professionals
Medifix Limited
Kawasumi Laboratories America, Inc
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Real Needlestick and Blood Exposure Stories |
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I got a needlestick 5 days ago from a Hepatitis C patient - he tested Negative for HIV in Oct 2005 but my employer broke 2 policies by not sending me to the ER, and not having the source's blood drawn in the 2 hour window. My blood was drawn in the the 2 hour time limit, but not yet tested and I can't seem to get any help from my job. I have been to Occupational Health and have to have blood drawn again in 6 weeks and again every 3 months. I work medical in the correctional field so you can imagine how worried I am. God only knows these aren't the healthiest of people.
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I've been stuck by needles (yes, with an s) before. I got a needlestick from a patient with hepatitis C (only my "employer" wouldn't pay for any kind of testing because I was a "private contractor" - the crookedness of some agencies makes me sick) but anyway, I'm okay. I read a lot about needlesticks, and the chances of getting anything (from a sub Q stick, especially) are pretty slim.
Unless the needle was dripping with blood I wouldn't lose sleep over it.
Do you have a blood exposure or needlestick story that you would like to share? Send your story to support@isips.org
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Featured Sharps Safety Product |
QLICKSMART® Single
QLICKSMART®
SINGLE is the product demanded by medical and nursing professionals around the world to compliment the highly successful Qlicksmart Flask.
The function of the device is the safe, quick, cheap and easy removal of a number of scalpel blades from traditional scalpel handles used in surgery. The Single-Use Sterile has been tested against over 300 combinations of scalpel blades and handles! Once the blade is removed, it is kept safe in its own transparent cartridge to enable safe counting and disposal as medical waste.
QLICKSMART®
SINGLE uses the same patented technology as the original "Qlicksmart" and it too is a world's first. It is the first scalpel blade removal and containment system developed specifically for use by the scrub nurse.For more information, visit www.qlicksmart.com
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Feeling overwhelmed about updating your Exposure Control Plan?
Maybe the Compendium of Infection Control Technologies can help you find the right one. [Photo courtesy Worth1000.com] |
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SPECIAL BOOKMARKS |
| Medical News |
HIV's ranks get a little grayer - Few expected to deal with infection and aging at same time.
Gary Myerscough of Sacramento thought his life was over when he was diagnosed with HIV in 1992. "It was more or less considered a death sentence," Myerscough said.
Nervous System Cancers Not Related To Specific "Highly Active" Anti-HIV Therapies
Highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART), used to treat HIV/AIDS decrease the risk of a cancer in a person's nervous system. Justin Stebbing, Ph.D., of the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, and colleagues assessed the incidence of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCL), a rare cancer common in people with impaired immune systems, including those with HIV and AIDS. They compared patients treated with HAART and those treated before HAART became widely used. [click link for full article]
| West Nile |
First human West Nile case reported
A man from St. Clair County is the first Illinois resident this year to be diagnosed with West Nile disease. The man, in his 60s, became ill in July and is currently recovering.
West Nile thriving in searing summer heat
An unusually hot summer has health officials concerned that the upcoming peak of the West Nile virus season could be worse than usual.
More humans infected with West Nile virus
West Nile virus claims another Idaho victim. A man from Mountain Home has come down with the virus. The Air Force says the retired airman is recovering off base.
Melba teen hospitalized with severe form of West Nile
A 16-year-old Melba High School student remains in a Boise hospital in critical condition after being diagnosed with a rare and severe form of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, a hospital spokesman said Saturday evening.
West Nile Cases Up In Nevada Over Last Year
18 human cases of West Nile virus have been reported so far this season in Nevada, double the number at the same time a year ago. State health officials say Humboldt County leads with 8 cases, four in July and four in August.
Boy Still Recovering From West Nile Virus
A boy is still in critical condition after he was bitten by a mosquito, and contracting West Nile Virus. The 16 year old Melba boy is in a Boise hospital. He was hospitalized last week with West Nile Meningitis.
Idaho teen diagnosed with West Nile
MELBA, Idaho (AP) -- A 16-year-old Melba High School student has been diagnosed with a rare and severe form of West Nile virus called West Nile meningitis, according to Laurie Boston with the Southwest District Health Department, which covers six Idaho counties.
First Michigan West Nile Virus Human Case Reported In Muskegon
State health officials today have confirmed the first human West Nile Virus (WNV) case of the 2006 season in Muskegon County.
Three West Nile cases in Malheur County
The Oregon State Public Health Laboratory has confirmed that three people in Malheur County have tested positive for West Nile virus
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ISIPS Articles |
Managing Infection Control articles written by Ron Stoker and ISIPS
members
April 2002 - Global Needlestick Prevention Group Formed to Highlight
Safety Products
October 2002 Issue - Healthcare Managers Re-tooling for Compliance by Dennis J. Ernst
December 2002 Issue - Sharps Safety Matters
February 2003 Issue - Birth of Occupational Safety in Labor and Delivery
March 2003 Issue - Stuck in the ER - Sharps Safety in Emergency Rooms
May 2003 Issue - A Special Report on Smallpox -Vaccination and Dressings
June 2003 Issue - End of the Line
September 2003 Issue - Focus on ISIPS by MIC staff
December 2003 Issue - 2003 Sharps Injury Prevention Award Winners (html version) or Click here for pdf version
December 2003 Issue - To The Point: Safety Huber Needles
April 2004 Issue - Sharps Injury Prevention in the Operating Room
June 2004 Issue - Smallpox 2004 - Are we prepared if our worst fears come true
July 2004 Issue - Steering Clear of Danger - IV Infection Prevention
October 2004 Issue - Managing Diabetes without Jabbing Anyone Else!
December 2004 Issue - The 2004 International Sharps Injury Prevention Awards
January 2005 - Safety in Urine Sampling
January 2005 - May I see your ID, please? Patient and Medication Misidentification
April 2005 - Point Taken - Comply or Pay the Price
June 2005 - Selection of Safety Scalpels
August 2005 - The Compendium of Infection Control Technologies
December 2005 - The International Sharps Injury Prevention Awards
January 2006 Sharps Injury Prevention Resource Guide
February 2006 - How Can You Tell If Your OSHA inspection is going poorly? Part II
April 2006 - A Change of Heart - Set Goals to Change Your Team's Sharps Safety
May 2006 - Zero Needlesticks— A Goal We Can Live With! Current OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Citations
June 2006 BESIDE THE POINT: Safety Huber Needles 2006 - State of the Market Report
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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
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.
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Surveys conducted by ISIPS |
Safety Ampoule Breakers
Many clinicians have complained about hand lacerations secondary to opening glass ampoules. Some studies have indicated that between 6% and 26% of clinicians that break open ampoules suffer from these glass cuts. There is an occupational risk of contracting a blood-borne infection as well as being contaminated by a variety of medicants. There are a variety of products that slip over the neck of an ampoule to create a larger area for grasping, making hard-to-handle ampoules easier to open minimizing the risk of cuts, nicks, and exposure to hazardous chemicals.
ISIPS recently conducted a survey to find out what your experience has been with glass ampoules. Click here to read the results of the survey.
| Links |
Needlestick Prevention Tour
Eureka! Sharps Disposal
Immunization Branch,
California Department of Health Services
ANFIM - Association of Needle-free
Injection Manufacturers
International Association of EMTs and
Paramedics
LifeChoice Donor Services
AOHP - Association of Occupational Health
Professionals in Healthcare
Touro University
International (TUI)
CINA - Canadian Intravenous Nurses Association
Quality America, Inc.
Center for Phlebotomy Education
Managing Infection Control Magazine
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Immunization Techniques |
The Immunization Branch of the California Department of Health Services has prepared an effective video to help train practitioners with the best practices for immunization. This informative video teaches immunization methods that are the most effective, least painful, and are competency-based. These Immunization Techniques materials show only safety-engineered needles and syringes , proper use and proper disposal. The materials are available through the California Distance Learning Health Network at www.cdlhn.com.
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