SHARPS INJURY PREVENTION. Learning Objectives Identify the different types of sharps. Identify...
-
Upload
abraham-williams -
Category
Documents
-
view
216 -
download
0
Transcript of SHARPS INJURY PREVENTION. Learning Objectives Identify the different types of sharps. Identify...
SHARPS INJURY PREVENTION
Learning Objectives 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
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
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.
About ½ of sharp injuries go unreported. A culture of safety should be promoted by:
Reporting injuries and hazards. Supporting involvement of staff in selection of
sharps injury prevention devices. Providing education and training on sharps injury
prevention.
Culture of Safety
Hypodermic needles Blood collection needles Suture needles Needles used in IV delivery systems Glass capillary tubes Used disposable razors
Sharps that Frequently Cause Injury
Physicians Nurses Lab technicians Phlebotomists Mid-level providers Housekeepers Laundry personnel And others
Who is at Risk?
Drawing blood IM injections IV access Suturing Handling laundry Collecting filled sharps containers And more
Procedures Linked to Injuries
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 Requirements
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.
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard
OSHA requires healthcare providers to: 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.
Exposure Control Plan
Follow standard precautions. Use engineering and work practice controls. Wear personal protective equipment. Avoid recapping, bending or breaking of
needles and sharps.
Methods to Reduce Exposure
CDC recommends standard precautions: 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!
Standard Precautions
Avoid recapping, bending or breaking needles and sharps.
Use a one hand technique if medical procedure requires recapping.
Place used sharps immediately into puncture-resistant containers.
Carry sealed specimen containers in an outer container.
Avoid touching contaminated broken glass with bare hands.
Safe Practices
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 non-safety counterparts, EXCEPT:
Protective devices are designed to prevent personnel from coming into contact with an exposed needle or other sharp.
Safe Medical Device
Needleless systems, such as needleless IV line connectors;
Sharps with engineered sharps injury protection, such as self-sheathing needles on syringes.
Two Types of Safer Medical Devices
NOW YOU SEE IT. NOW YOU DON’T.
Device that does not use a needle for Collection of body fluids Administration of medication/fluids; or Any other procedure with potential percutaneous
exposure to a contaminated sharp.
Needleless Systems
Needleless System
Non-needle sharps or needle devices with built-in safety features or mechanisms that reduce the risk of exposure incidents.
Uses: Withdrawing body fluids Accessing a vein or artery Administering medications or other fluids
Engineered Sharps Injury Protection
Example of Hypodermic Syringe with Retractable technology
Example of Phlebotomy Needle with Self-blunting Feature
Needleguard Safety Feature
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/hazards/ppe/ppe.html
Personal Protective Equipment
Know where protective wear is stored Gloves, gowns, mask, face protector, etc.
Protective Clothing
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.
Risks of Glass Capillary Tubes
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.
Sharp Disposal Containers
An exposure incident has occurred if 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
Report all exposures Complete necessary paperwork to help
document exposure. Employer will provide a medical evaluation,
counseling, treatments, information, etc. as needed for you.
Exposure Incident
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.
Post-exposure
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:
Broken glass, scalpels, blades, etc. Report all sharp related injuries.
SUMMARY
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Fact Sheet: https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/
data_BloodborneFacts/bbfact01.pdfA: CDC: https://
www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_BloodborneFacts/bbfact01.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety/pdf/sharpssafety_poster3.pdf
Resources