When someone pricks themselves with a used needle, this is known as a needlestick injury. Tragically, they are an extremely common form of occupational injury for healthcare providers, and waste workers, who are all exposed to potentially fatal infections of blood-borne diseases like HIV and Hepatitis. In fact, the NHS estimates that needlestick injuries are the second most common form of injury in the UK health system. Worldwide, the World Health Organisation estimates that over 2 million injuries are reported every year, but concede that due to significant under-reporting, the number of injuries actually sustained may be double that.

In 20 countries that carried out injection safety assessments in 2001, health-care workers experienced on average 1-9 needlestick injuries per year. An assessment done by the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office shows an average of 4 needlestick injuries per year per health-care worker.  

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that 85% of occupationally acquired HIV is due to needlestick injury. 

The American Hospital Association estimates average treatment cost per needlestick injury at $450-800 even if there is no transmission of disease; up to $3000 if there is a minor infection; and up to $1m if it results in a serious infection. 

ANTI-NEEDLE STICK INFORMATION RESOURCE

Tel: + 44 (0)1825 713888  Enquiries: info@starsyringe.com

THE FACTS

RESOURSES

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LINKS

The management of health, safety and welfare issues for NHS staff. NHS Employers (NHSE) 2005 (The Blue Book)

Chapter 19: Needlestick Management 

http://www.cepis.ops-oms.org/bvsacd/cd49/needles.pdf

Needlestick Forum

http://needlestickforumnet.site.securepod.com/saferneedles/index.htm

British Medical Association

www.bma.org.uk

International Sharps Prevention Society

www.isips.org

UK Health and Safety Executive, Needlestick Injuries

http://www.hse.gov.uk/healthservices/needlesticks/index.htm

Selected EU Parliament and Commission consultations on Needlestick Prevention

http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/social_dialogue/docs/needlestick1_en.pdf

http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/social_dialogue/docs/needlestick2_en.pdf

World Health Organisation Safe Injection Global Network

http://www.who.int/injection_safety/en/

Frontline Foundation, Against Occupational Risks to Healthcare Workers

http://www.frontlinefoundation.org

Association of British Healthcare Industries

www.abhi.org.uk

International Association of Safe Injection Technologies

www.iasit.org

American Nurses Association, Safer Needles Campaign

http://www.needlestick.org

A WAY FORWARD

Needlestick injuries are preventable, through a combination of better training, safer product, and effective regulation. 

Regulation to uphold needlestick prevention as part of health and safety at work was introduced in the US in 1999. Health and safety regulations within the UK are more vague, but comprehensive EU legislation to include needlestick prevention is planned for October 2008. 

K3 Safety Cap is a unique and effective product solution. Compact, simple, and secure, it is preferred by clinicians as a unobtrusive, reliable safety device for a vast range of medical environments, from blood draw to therapeutic injection. 

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