Unifine SafeControl - Active safety devices and reducing needlestick injuries

Although programs are in place to manage this increase, the charity Diabetes UK suggests that unless the government invests more in these programs to expand their scope and offer, as many as one in ten adults in the UK could have the disease by 2030².

There are now many new ways to administer insulin, but a common method is using a pen needle. Standard pen needles have an exposed tip during the entire injection, and there is no feature to cover the needle after use. Safety devices use a mechanism that is either passive-automatic or active-manual to cover the needle and help lower the risk of needlestick injuries (NSIs). In 2010, the EU Directive³ on Sharps Safety made these devices mandatory for clinical settings, but didn’t specify which type to use.

Both active and passive safety devices are intended to provide greater safety for patients and healthcare professionals, especially by reducing the risk of transmitting bloodborne infections through accidental NSIs. The main difference is that passive devices, along with their automatic safety features, usually cover the needle before and after the injection process, which can make the needle harder to see and may require a different injection method. With active devices, the needle remains visible from the moment you take off the safety cap until the safety mechanism is manually activated. Being able to see the needle during injection provides better control and means the user must actively be involved in the safety process.

NSIs can be a big financial and psychological concern for healthcare organizations⁴. A recent study published by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health emphasizes the seriousness of NSIs in healthcare and the types of devices that provide the safest experience. Researchers surveyed 280 nurses across Poland working in various healthcare settings. They filled out a questionnaire to see how often nurses (who most frequently come into contact with infectious materials) suffered sharps injuries when using devices with and without safety features. One in two nurses (51.4%) reported they had been injured by a sharp medical tool during their career(5). With about half of participants experiencing a sharps injury, it highlights how common injuries are in healthcare, and why it’s essential to drive innovation and design next generation devices that help minimize injury risks.

The devices most commonly causing NSIs were non-safety needles, with 22.64% of nurses injured by them at least once during the 12-month study period. The device least likely to cause NSIs was the active safety needle (5.56%), showing safety devices work, especially the active type. This data shows there’s a clear need for medical device manufacturers to keep a reliable supply to hospitals and to keep innovating to reduce NSI risks. The key is to balance safety and control for an effective injection experience that meets both healthcare professionals’ and patients’ needs. This can be accomplished by consistently evaluating how current devices perform to make sure they meet standards, and by taking corrective action if they don’t.

Unifine^® SafeControl^®, our active safety pen needle, is designed to give healthcare professionals confidence in delivering a full dose to the patient, while also protecting them from NSIs. It features an active safety mechanism activated by a manual push tab so the healthcare professional has total control. The safety shield covers the needle after the injection to prevent NSIs. The dual safety indicator provides both visual and sound confirmation that the safety mechanism is activated, while the green, recyclable cap keeps the device sterile and protected before injection. Made specifically for healthcare professionals, we aim to offer peace of mind to those providing important, lifesaving care.