[Safety-engineered devices to prevent percutaneous injuries: cost-effectiveness analysis on prevention of high-risk exposure].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficiency of the replacement of several medical devices by engineered sharp injury (SI) prevention devices (ESIPDs).


METHODS
The cost-effectiveness ratios of the replacement of medical devices in use by ESIPDs were estimated: their purchasing costs and the direct costs of sharp injury care were taken into account; the number of SI avoidable by each ESIPD was estimated from the 252 occupational SI notified by healthcare workers at a 1,300 bed hospital from March 2002 to February 2003. The relationship between ESIPD additional costs and the number of high-risk SI was estimated (SI were classified as high-risk if they met two or more of the following criteria: moderately-deep or deep injury, injury with a device previously inserted in an artery or vein, or with a device exposed to blood).


RESULTS
ESIPDs order according to cost-effectiveness ratio: safety needle for implanted ports (-2.65 euro/SI avoided), followed by syringes with protective shield (869.79 euro/SI), resheathable winged steel needles, needleless administration sets, and short catheters with protective encasement. ESIPDs order according to relationship between additional costs and number of high-risk sharp injuries avoided: safety needles for implanted ports, followed by winged steel needles, hypodermic syringes, short catheter and needleless administration sets.


CONCLUSIONS
Savings in SI care outweigh additional costs of certain ESIPDs. Cost-effectiveness analysis is useful in assigning priorities; however the risks of SI by every device must be taken into account.
Armadans Gil
Lluís
L
Servei de Medicina Preventiva, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. larmadan@vhebron.net
Fernández Cano
María Isabel
MI
Albero Andrés
Inmaculada
I
Anglés Mellado
María Luisa
ML
Sánchez García
José María
JM
Campins Martí
Magda
M
Vaqué Rafart
Josep
J
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000191:economics*; D012307:Risk Factors