title: Injection practices among clinicians in United States health care settings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Improper use of syringes, needles, and medication vials has resulted in patient-to-patient transmission of bloodborne pathogens, including hepatitis C virus. This study examined the injection practices of health care providers to identify trends and target opportunities for education on safe practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  An on-line survey was conducted in May and June 2010 of clinicians in US health care settings that prepare and/or administer parenteral medications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the 5446 eligible respondents reported injection practices consistent with current recommendations. However, the following unsafe practices were identified: 6.0% "sometimes or always" use single-dose/single-use vials for more than 1 patient; 0.9% "sometimes or always" reuse a syringe but change the needle for use on a second patient; 15.1% reuse a syringe to enter a multidose vial and then 6.5% save that vial for use on another patient (1.1% overall).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unsafe injection practices represent an ongoing threat to patient safety. Ensuring safe injection practices in all health care settings will require a multifaceted approach that focuses on surveillance, oversight, enforcement, and continuing education.
authors.affiliation: Premier Safety Institute, Premier Healthcare Alliance, 13034 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Charlotte, NC 28277, USA. Gina_Pugliese@Premierinc.com
authors.forename: Gina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.forename: Cathie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gosnell
authors.forename: Judene M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bartley
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D006268:Health Facilities; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States