Many injections around the world are unnecessary and often unsafe. Unsafe injections put lives of patient at risk and every year cause 1.67 million hepatitis B infections, up to 315 120 hepatitis C infections and up to 33 877 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections.1,2

The World Health Organization (WHO) 2015 Guidelines recommend rational use of injections, safe injection practices and the exclusive use of safety-engineered injection syringes for all types of injections by 2020.

Safety engineered syringes exist for both immunisation and therapeutic use and have mechanisms preventing re-use of the device [re-use prevention (RUP) syringe] and/or protecting.

BE A SKILL FULL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: TALK TO YOUR PATIENTS

As a health care provider, you have a key role to play in making the right prescription decisions and helping patients understand what treatment they are receiving.

• If a medication is prescribed,
consider the method of
administration.
• Ask yourself: is an injection
really needed, or is there an
oral alternative?

Surveys in some countries showed that in situations when a patient asked for an injection and the health care provider
informed the patient that an oral medicine would work equally well, the patient was then convincedand did not insist on having the injection.

HOW CAN AN INJECTION BE UNSAFE?

SAFETY FIRST

1. One of the most effective ways to avoid injection-associated infections is to reduce the number of injections
   given in hospitals and clinics.
2. Most oral medications (e.g.,antibiotics, vitamins and painkillers) are absorbed well and rapidly in the digestive
   tract.
3. Clinical trials also show that for most common conditions the use of injections is not associated with higher cure rates or faster healing.5 In most cases, injections should only be used:
4. For serious and life-threatening illness where they are recommended by treatment guidelines.
5.  When patients are unable to swallow.
6. When patients vomit profusely.
7. When there is no effective oral medication or the absorption process is significantly altered.

UNSAFE INJECTION PRACTICES
Unsafe injection practices are caused by avoidable risky situations and practices including:

• Lack of awareness of the risks of unsafe injections.
• Overuse of injections for illnesses for which effective oral medications exist.
• Needle-stick injuries to health care workers from recapping needles.
• Lack of clean work spaces.
• Re-use of syringes because of shortages of syringes.
• Unsafe sharps collection and waste management.

Our Product:

Securinject is a single use safety syringe designed to administer local anaesthesia. It is an award winning patent protected innovation which prevents accidental needle stick injuries and cross infections in line with OSHA, Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013 and European Council Directive 2010/32/EU (the Sharps Directive).

WHAT TO DO TO (STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS)

PREVENT AVOIDABLE INFECTIONS
Always use safety-engineered syringes, show your patients your new syringe package and explain that they prevent re-use. This will help increase awareness of how to keep safe and prevent avoidable infections.

WHO recommends health care providers should focus on the following 7 steps that make every injection safe.

STEP 1: Clean work space.
STEP 2: Hand hygiene.
STEP 3: Sterile and new syringe
and needle, with re-use prevention
and/or injury protection feature
whenever possible.
STEP 4: Sterile vial of medication
and diluent.
STEP 5: Skin disinfection.
STEP 6: Appropriate collection
of sharps.
STEP 7: Appropriate waste
management.

By following these simple steps, you take key actions to ensure the risks of unsafe injections are avoided.

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Source/Courtesy: WHO