Injection (medicine) - Injection Safety

Injection Safety

40% of injections worldwide are administered with unsterilized, reused syringes and needles, and in some countries this proportion is 70%, exposing millions of people to infections.

Another risk is poor collection and disposal of dirty injection equipment, which exposes healthcare workers and the community to the risk of needle stick injuries, while in some countries unsafe disposal can lead to re-sale of used equipment on the black market. Many countries have their legislation or policies that mandate that healthcare professionals use a safety syringe (safety engineered needle) or alternative methods of administering medicines whenever possible.

Open burning of syringes, which is considered unsafe by the World Health Organization, is reported by half of the non-industrialized countries.

According to a study, unsafe injections cause an estimated 1.3 million early deaths each year.

To improve injection safety, the WHO recommends:

1. Changing the behavior of health care workers and patients.

2. Ensuring the availability of equipment and supplies.

3. Managing waste safely and appropriately.

Glossary

Further information: List of oncology-related terms