Needlestick Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Needlestick and links to relevant pages within the course.
Learn more about laboratory continuing education for medical technologists to earn CE credit for AMT, ASCP, NCA, and state license renewal and recertification. Or get information about laboratory safety and compliance courses that deliver cost-effective OSHA safety training and continuing education to your laboratory's employees.
| Occupational Exposures HIV transmission, due to occupational exposure, occurs by: Percutaneous injury, such as a needlestick or a cut with a sharp object; Contact of mucous membrane or abraded skin with HIV-infected blood or body fluids. The risk of HIV transmission after a percutaneous exposure to HIV-infected blood is 0.3%.The risk of HIV transmission after a mucous membrane exposure to HIV-infected blood is .09%.The risk of HIV transmission after contact of abraded skin with HIV-infected blood is estimated to be less than .09%. | View Page |
| If an Exposure Occurs Give first aid. Wash needlesticks and cuts with soap and water. Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water. Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigants. Report exposure to supervisor. | View Page |
| Match the proper first aid with the exposure type. | View Page |
| Overview Prevention of HIV exposure is the best line of defense to prevent occupational transmission of HIV as there is no vaccine available to develop specific immunity and the postexposure prophylaxis is toxic. Following appropriate workplace practices in the laboratory focus on preventing needlesticks or other sharps injuries and exposure of mucous membranes and abraded skin to HIV-infected blood or body fluids. | View Page |
| How easily is HIV transmitted? After an exposure to HIV such as by a needlestick, the chance of becoming infected is usually less than 1%. However, exposures from patients with high numbers of viral particles in their blood may be more hazardous. Because of the extremely serious nature of HIV, we must take every precaution to avoid workplace exposure. | View Page |
| Sharps A sharp is any object which can penetrate the skin.Examples include: Needles Scalpels Broken glass About 800,000 needlestick and sharps injuries occur in the U.S. healthcare workplace each year! It is important to handle and dispose of sharps properly. | View Page |
| Exposure Incident Even after taking all the proper precautions there is still a small chance of an exposure incident. An Exposure incident occurs when: Blood or another potentially infectious body fluid comes into direct contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin. Parenteral exposure means: Exposure occurring as a result of piercing the skin barrier through needlesticks, cuts, or abrasions. | View Page |
| Discussion All biohazard needle disposal containers are marked with a “full” line at about ¾ of the box’s volume. Therefore, needles should never be sticking out of the top of the container. Julie should never have attempted to put the needle into an overly full container. The needlestick safety and prevention act requires the use of butterflies with built in safety devices. However, they are only effective if properly activated. When disposing of a butterfly needle, hold its “wings” with one hand, and the hub at the opposite end of the tubing with your other hand to prevent the needle from recoiling. Butterflies should be used with extra caution since they are the number one cause of needle stick injuries.Relevant topics:Needle disposal, Sharps disposal containers, Butterfly needles with safety 1, Butterfly needles with safety 2, Needle-stick injuries, Built-in safety features, Angel Wing™ safety butterfly, Punctur-Guard™ safety butterfly | View Page |
| Needle holders, built-in protection devices contd When the orange safety sheath is engaged, as shown on the right, it protects the user from needlestick injury, until the device is properly disposed of in an approved sharps container.
Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions, and your procedure manual for detailed instructions prior to use. | View Page |
| Needles with built-in safety devices You will be using needles and/or needle holders with built-in safety devices.
Various such needles are on the market.
Remember that you must still activate the safety device to get the protection offered.
So careful attention to what you are doing is still one of the best ways to protect yourself against needlestick injury.
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| Butterflies with built-in safety features You will be using butterfly needles with built in safety features.
Butterfly needles are the number-one cause of needlestick injuries, so proper use of their safety devices is critical.
Their use is described in greater detail in the section on butterfly needle blood collection.
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| Activation of safety device Activate the safety device in use at your institution.Be sure to follow your institution’s procedure for activating this device to protect yourself from needlestick exposure. | View Page |
| Needlestick safety and prevention act continued Please keep the following in mind:
These devices must be used properly and conscientiously to prevent injury.
Carefully follow your institution’s policies and procedures to prevent needlestick injury.
Most devices require you to activate their safety features. Often, the device lets you know it is properly activated by a click or a snap.
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| Needlestick safety and prevention act The Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act was passed by Congress in November 2000.
This law modifies the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard to require that health-care institutions use only needles and other sharps which have engineering controls and design features to help prevent accidental sharps injury.
Health care institutions must update their exposure control plans to reflect these changes.
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| Needlestick safety and prevention act continued There are many different types of needle safety devices on the market.
As you go through this program, we will introduce you to some of them | View Page |
| Needlestick safety and prevention act continued The law requires that each institution gets input from employees actually involved in blood collection.
So the actual safety devices you are required to use will vary depending on where you work.
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| Protect Yourself The safety of both the phlebotomist and patient is of utmost concern at all times. In the unfortunate event of an accidental needlestick or if you get blood or other potentially infectious materials in your eyes, nose, mouth, or on broken skin, immediately flood the exposed area with water and clean any wound with soap and water or a skin disinfectant if available. Report this immediately to your employer and seek immediate medical attention. It is imperative that the phlebotomist follow facility protocol for reporting the incident. This ensures prompt treatment for the injury. The facility procedure must be followed whether the accidental puncture was from a clean or contaminated needle.The single most important element to prevent an accidental needlestick is for the phlebotomist to fully concentrate during every procedure. Keeping your mind on the task at hand contributes to a successful and safe result. | View Page |
| Winged Device The winged device is another popular choice for the phlebotomist. This may be chosen for pediatric venipuncture, small delicate veins on adults (particularly geriatric patients), or hand veins. The device can be used with a needle holder and evacuated tube or a syringe. A needle safety device is incorporated into the design of the winged device to prevent needlestick injury. | View Page |