Accidental Needle Sticks Account for 33% of All Work-Related Injuries
The American Nurses Association reports that 600,000 to 1 million healthcare workers are injured by conventional needles and sharps annually, with the majority of the injuries occurring while recapping or disposing of the needle. While most reported injuries involve nursing staff, there is also a risk to laboratory staff, physicians, housekeepers, and other healthcare workers. Of those injured, 16,000 per year will result in infection.
Medi-Hut, Inc., Lakewood, NJ, is manufacturing a new passive, one-step anti-stick safety syringe. The syringe will incorporate a transport sleeve into which the needle will automatically retract after use, rendering the needle inoperable. Needle-stick safety was introduced into legislation with the passing of a law in California in 1998. Since then, 15 states have passed needle- stick safety bills and more states have pending legislation.
APIC Salutes 2025 Trailblazers in Infection Prevention and Control
June 18th 2025From a lifelong mentor to a rising star, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) honored leaders across the career spectrum at its 2025 Annual Conference in Phoenix, recognizing individuals who enhance patient safety through research, leadership, and daily practice.
Building Infection Prevention Capacity in the Middle East: A 7-Year Certification Success Story
June 17th 2025Despite rapid development, the Middle East faces a critical shortage of certified infection preventionists. A 7-year regional initiative has significantly boosted infection control capacity, increasing the number of certified professionals and elevating patient safety standards across health care settings.
Streamlined IFU Access Boosts Infection Control and Staff Efficiency
June 17th 2025A hospital-wide quality improvement project has transformed how staff access critical manufacturer instructions for use (IFUs), improving infection prevention compliance and saving time through a standardized, user-friendly digital system supported by unit-based training and interdepartmental collaboration.
Swift Isolation Protocol Shields Chicago Children’s Hospital During 2024 Measles Surge
June 17th 2025When Chicago logged its first measles cases linked to crowded migrant shelters last spring, one pediatric hospital moved in hours—not days—to prevent the virus from crossing its threshold. Their playbook offers a ready template for the next communicable-disease crisis.