Unifine SafeControl - Active safety devices and the reduction in needlestick injury
The number of people living with diabetes is increasing. In the UK alone, the NHS is estimated to spend over £10 billion each year on treatment(1). Although prevention programmes are in place to manage this increase, the charity Diabetes UK suggests that unless the government increases investment in these programmes to improve their scope and offering, up to one in 10 adults in the UK could be living with the disease by 2030(2).
There are many new methods now available to administer insulin, but a common route is with a pen needle. Standard pen needles have an exposed sharp throughout the injection experience, with no feature to shield the needle after use. Safety devices use a mechanism with either a passive-automatic or active-manual activation that covers the needle and helps reduce the risk of needlestick injuries (NSIs). In 2010, the EU Directive(3) on Sharps Safety was introduced which mandated the use of these devices in clinical scenarios but did not provide a preference for either.
Both active and passive safety devices are designed to improve safety for patients and healthcare professionals, particularly from the transmission of bloodborne pathogens that may cause infections through accidental NSI. The key difference is that along with the automated safety mechanism, passive devices typically cover the needle before and after the injection process, which may make it difficult to see the needle and require the use of a different injection technique. Active devices mean the needle is visible from the moment the safety cap is removed until the safety mechanism is manually activated. Visibility of the needle throughout the injection experience can offer better control and requires the user to be actively involved in the safety process.
NSIs can represent a significant financial and psychological issue for healthcare institutions(4), and a recent study by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health highlights the severity of NSIs within the healthcare setting and which types of devices provide the safest experience. The survey was conducted with 280 nurses working across Poland in various healthcare institutions and consisted of a questionnaire designed to examine the frequency of sharps injuries among nurses (who have the most frequent contact with infectious material) when using devices with and without safety features. Every second nurse (51.4%) declared that they had been injured with a sharp medical tool during their professional work(5). With around half the participants experiencing a sharps injury, it brings to the forefront how common they are within the healthcare space, and how important it is to continually drive innovation and design next generation devices which can help to reduce injury risks.
The devices which were most likely to cause NSI were the non-safety needles, with 22.64% of nurses getting injured by them at some point during the 12-month study period . Whilst the device which was least likely to cause NSI was the active safety needle (5.56%), demonstrating the effectiveness of safety devices, and particularly the active variant. With this data in mind, there is clearly an onus on medical device manufacturers to provide a consistent chain of supply to hospitals and to continue to innovate and help reduce the risk of NSIs. The key is balancing safety and control to create an injection experience that does not compromise on the needs of healthcare professionals and patients. This can be achieved by continuously evaluating the performance and success of current devices to ensure they meet standards and commit to corrective action when they do not.
Unifine® SafeControl®, our active safety pen needle is designed to give HCPs confidence in delivering a full medication dose to the patient, whilst also providing protection from NSI. Featuring an active safety mechanism, which engages through a manual push tab that gives the HCP total control, the safety guard covers the needle after the injection has been administered to protect from NSI. Additionally, the dual safety indicator gives both visual and audible confirmation that the safety mechanism has been activated, whilst the green, recyclable cap provides sterility and protection prior to injection. Designed specifically for HCPs, we want to give those who provide important, life-saving care the peace of mind they deserve.
References:
(1). NHS Prevention Programme cuts chances of Type 2 diabetes for thousands (no date). NHS. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2022/03/nhs-prevention-programme-cuts-chances-of-type-2-diabetes-for-thousands/
(2). One in 10 UK adults could have diabetes by 2030, warns charity (2021). The BMJ. British Medical Journal Publishing Group. Available at: https://www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n2453.
(3) Directive 2010/32/EU - prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector (2010) OSHA. Available at: https://osha.europa.eu/en/legisDirective 2010/32/EU - prevention from sharp injuries in the hospital and healthcare sector (2010) OSHA. Available at: https://osha.europa.eu/en/legislation/directives/council-directive-2010-32-eu-prevention-from-sharp-injuries-in-the-hospital-and-healthcare-sector
(4) Blood and Body Fluid Exposures in 2020. Results from a survey of RCN members (2020) Royal College of Nursing, 20 Cavendish Square, London, W1G 0RN; RCN publication code: 009 687. Available at: https://www.rcn.org.uk/Professional-Development/publications/rcn-blood-and-bodily-fluid-exposures-uk-pub-009-687
(5) Garus-Pakowska, A.; Górajski, M.; Sakowski, P. Non-Safety and Safety Device Sharp Injuries—Risk of Incidents, SEDs Availability, Attitudes and Perceptions of Nurses According to Cross-Sectional Survey in Poland. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 11315. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191811315