A comprehensive approach to percutaneous injury prevention during phlebotomy: results of a multicenter study, 1993-1995.
OBJECTIVE
To examine a comprehensive approach for preventing percutaneous injuries associated with phlebotomy procedures.


METHODS
From 1993 through 1995, personnel at 10 university-affiliated hospitals enhanced surveillance and assessed underreporting of percutaneous injuries; selected, implemented, and evaluated the efficacy of phlebotomy devices with safety features (ie, engineered sharps injury prevention devices [ESIPDs]); and assessed healthcare worker satisfaction with ESIPDs. Investigators also evaluated the preventability of a subset of percutaneous injuries and conducted an audit of sharps disposal containers to quantify activation rates for devices with safety features.


RESULTS
The three selected phlebotomy devices with safety features reduced percutaneous injury rates compared with conventional devices. Activation rates varied according to ease of use, healthcare worker preference for ESIPDs, perceived "patient adverse events," and device-specific training.


CONCLUSIONS
Device-specific features and healthcare worker training and involvement in the selection of ESIPDs affect the activation rates for ESIPDs and therefore their efficacy. The implementation of ESIPDs is a useful measure in a comprehensive program to reduce percutaneous injuries associated with phlebotomy procedures.
Alvarado-Ramy
Francisco
F
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Beltrami
Elise M
EM
Short
Louise J
LJ
Srivastava
Pamela U
PU
Henry
Keith
K
Mendelson
Meryl
M
Gerberding
Julie L
JL
Delclos
George L
GL
Campbell
Scott
S
Solomon
Robin
R
Fahrner
Rita
R
Culver
David H
DH
Bell
David
D
Cardo
Denise M
DM
Chamberland
Mary E
ME
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003625:Data Collection; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012308:Risk Management; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D017744:Medical Waste Disposal