title: Estimation of cost savings from reprocessing of plastic syringes. A case analysis.
abstract: Analysis of the cost of reprocessing plastic syringes in a hospital sterilization unit is considered. A simple model to estimate the cost of reprocessed syringes, showed that a syringe that had been reprocessed once was 29.8% cheaper than a new one. Reprocessing each of the 21,000 plastic syringes that are reprocessed in this unit per month once, realises savings in the order of KSh37,590 (US$ 1600). Although this unit reprocesses syringes about 10 times before disposal, the largest savings per reprocessing cycle occurred during the first 5 cycles. The cost of a reprocessed syringe does not reach its asymptotic value until after about 1,000 cycles.
authors.affiliation: Kenya Medical Research Institute, Medical Research Centre, Nairobi.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Mwaniki
mesh_terms: D002495:Central Supply, Hospital / Q000191:economics*; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000379:methods*; D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D010969:Plastics; D013242:Sterilization / Q000191:economics; D013594:Syringes / Q000191:economics*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics