title: Reuse prevention syringes for reconstitution of lyophilized vaccines: Operational study and UNICEF plans for expanding introduction.
abstract: Since the 1990s, the United Nation's Children's Fund has encouraged injection safety for immunizations through bundling vaccines with appropriate amounts of supporting equipment and by supplying autodisable (AD) syringes for injections. However, poor vaccine reconstitution practices continue to be reported worldwide. By 2009, UNICEF will begin to phase out the distribution of standard disposable syringes for vaccine reconstitution and replace them with reuse prevention (RUP) syringes, with a full transition expected by the end of 2010. A field evaluation in Indonesia was conducted to identify introduction requirements, issues with healthcare worker training and acceptance, and RUP syringe performance and safety. Managers and health workers felt that RUP syringes improved injection safety and fit easily into country logistical systems. Healthcare workers felt they were intuitive to use, but recommended special training. The integration of RUP reconstitution syringes by UNICEF could increase injection safety by preventing the reuse of syringes and reducing vaccine contamination.
authors.affiliation: PATH, 1455 NW Leary Way, Seattle, WA, USA. jfleming@path.org
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: Edward John
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.forename: Vanda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Moniaga
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Widjaya
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soepardi
authors.forename: Nyoman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Supartha
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salovaara
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khamassi
authors.forename: Carib
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D004209:Disposable Equipment / Q000592:standards*; D017743:Equipment Reuse / Q000592:standards*; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000592:standards; D007267:Injections / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods; D013594:Syringes / Q000592:standards*; D014480:United Nations; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines