Needlestick injuries are frequently occurring injuries in healthcare. Needlestick injuries include all cuts, scratches and puncture wounds caused by cannulas, scalpels or lancets. If there is pre-existing contact with the patient and/or contamination with blood and other body fluids, the aforementioned work equipment is considered contaminated and can cause serious infections. Transmission with subsequent infection of dangerous viral pathogens, such as hepatitis B and C, as well as the HI virus, can be the result of needlestick injuries.
Who is potentially at risk?
At high risk are, of course, all healthcare workers who are directly confronted with patients’ blood or other bodily fluids during the treatment and care of patients or nursing home residents through appropriate measures.
But cleaning staff and other employees who are entrusted with the disposal of clinical waste, for example, are also at risk of needlestick injuries in the workplace.
Cause of needlestick injuries
Needlestick injuries are multifaceted and often result from carelessness and hectic schedules during the busy workday in doctors’ offices, nursing homes, clinics, and emergency medical services.
Needle sticks due to recapping:
Putting a needle back into its protective cap is illegal and prohibited in occupational safety and health. Unfortunately, it is nevertheless a common practice in the hectic daily routine of practices, homes and clinics to recap the used cannula. Carelessness frequently results in needlestick injuries with contaminated needles when using this method.
Puncture and cut injuries due to improper disposal:
After use, used cannulas, lancets and other tips or sharp disposable instruments should be disposed of in a discard container. It is imperative that this container is secure against punctures from the discarded instruments and must not be overfilled. When a container has been completely filled, it is closed tightly and disposed of. Disposal in household waste or in garbage bags is not permitted and endangers other groups of people.
Use of conventional products instead of safety products:
Conventional products are often used for cost reasons, even though there are safety-relevant alternatives. However, the follow-up costs for needlestick injuries with subsequent blood tests to rule out infection are significantly higher than the regular use of safety needles, which have been proven to minimize the incidence of needlestick injuries in the workplace.
Vasofix Safety Cannula
The Vasofix Safety Cannula (safety intravenous catheter) was specially designed for use in nursing homes, doctors’ offices, clinics and emergency medical services. The aim of the “Braunüle”, was the protection of nursing staff, doctors and other medical personnel, during the exercise of their treating activities. Due to its special safety technology, the Vasofix Safety by B. Braun reliably reduces the occurrence of needlestick injuries in everyday work. The Vasofix Cannula has a safety clip technology that automatically and autonomously secures the cannula when it is withdrawn from the punctured vein. Recapping of the used cannula is therefore no longer necessary and is no longer practiced. This mechanism cannot be bypassed. If the cannula is already secured, it cannot be used a second time.
Advantages of the Vasofix Safety Cannula for Staff and Patients
In addition to the aspect of occupational safety, Vasofix Safety Cannula have a number of special product features to make working with this aid as pleasant as possible for both staff and patients.
For the staff, the properties are of decisive importance when puncturing an indwelling cannula. The Vasofix Safety cannula has excellent puncture properties and is easy to use. This is made possible by a 3-facet ground geometry and the atraumatic cannula tip. This makes it possible to protect the patient during puncture and treatment.
Another advantage is the integrated port. With its integration, it ensures simple and uncomplicated administration of drugs and other liquid substances without having to puncture the vein again. In order to better identify the indwelling cannula as a foreign body during diagnostic imaging, it has four fully embedded X-ray contrast strips.
To protect patients, Vasofix Safety needles are of course PVC and latex-free and comply with ISO standard 10.555-1/5.
