Disposal of injection material used for the treatment of hepatitis C: comparison with insulin-dependent diabetes and thromboembolism.
OBJECTIVE
The survey conducted in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region in France in 1999 showed that 38% of patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) receiving interferon injections in their home were aware of the recommendations concerning the disposal of injection material and that 41% of the needles were discarded with household waste after use. The purpose of our study conducted in the Centre region of France was to ascertain how injection material used by HCV-positive patients for interferon treatment are disposed of in comparison with material used by patients injecting insulin for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for thromboembolism.


METHODS
A questionnaire to be completed by patients was proposed to HCV-positive patients attending hepatogastroenterology clinics in the Centre region hepatitis C network for therapeutic follow-up (N=113 patients) between October 2001-January 2002. The same questionnaire was proposed to patients attending follow-up consultations for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (N=85 patients) or thromboembolism (N=23 patients) between March-June 2002.


RESULTS
Significantly more patients stated they were aware of recommendations for disposal of injection material in the HCV group (89%) than in the IDDM (67%) or LMWH (26%) groups (P<0.01). Injection material was discarded with household waste less often by patients in the HCV group (6%) than in the IDDM (32%) or LMWH (29%) groups (P<0.001) and more often collected in a safety box prior to incineration (73% in the HCV group versus 63% and 14% in the IDDM and LMWH groups respectively). The safety box was discarded with household garbage more often by patients in the IDDM (54%) or LMWH (50%) groups than in the HCV group (0%) (P<0.001). Equivalent proportions of the patients said they recapped the needle after use (HCV 83%; IDDM 93%; LMWH 84%).


CONCLUSIONS
Information concerning use of safety boxes for disposal of injection material should be provided to patients in order to comply with regulatory recommendations on proper disposal of used injection material. Moreover, the habit of recapping needles (89% of all patients in this study) is still widespread.
Causse
Xavier
X
Service d'Hépato-gastroentérologie, CHR La Source, BP 6709, 45067 Orléans Cedex 2, France.
D'Alteroche
Louis
L
Si Ahmed
Si Nafa
SN
Giraudeau
Bruno
B
Metman
Etienne-Henri
EH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013594:Syringes; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D007328:Insulin; D017744:Medical Waste Disposal