Safe inoculation of blood and bone marrow for liquid culture detection of mycobacteria.
BACKGROUND
Needlestick injuries confer an unnecessary risk of occupational bloodborne infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. After an accidental needlestick injury, procedures for inoculation of liquid culture media for rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and other mycobacteria from blood and bone marrow specimens were reviewed.


OBJECTIVE
To identify a safer transfer device, which could replace the ordinary syringe in inoculation of liquid culture vials.


METHODS
We identified a transfer device to transfer blood or bone marrow specimens from bedside tubes into liquid culture vials.


CONCLUSIONS
The changed procedure will reduce the risk of needlestick accidents and be of benefit to other microbiological laboratories using the same or similar inoculation techniques.
Møller
M
M
International Reference Laboratory of Mycobacteriology, Statens Serum Institut, The National Institute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases and Congenital Disorders, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark.
El Maghrabi
R
R
Olesen
N
N
Thomsen
V Ø
VØ
D000328:Adult; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D001853:Bone Marrow; D003470:Culture Media; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D005260:Female; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D007267:Injections / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016635:Universal Precautions / Q000295:instrumentation
D003470:Culture Media