sharps injury data
that almost 25% of all
sharps injuries occur
to the non-user. That
means they're occur-
ring downstream to
environmental service
workers, to SPD
staffers, to waste
haulers."
Rates of adopting
sharps safety technol-
ogy would improve if surgeons trained with the devices during their
schooling, according to Dr. Mitchell. "That's another frustration
because these newer technologies for sharps safety are typically hav-
ing no visibility in medical school," she says. "Unless their attendings
or surgical mentors are using them where they're being trained, young
surgeons don't have access to them."
Blunted sutures have been around for decades, and even the uptake
from sharp to blunt has not been very good, says Dr. Mitchell. That's
somewhat surprising, because there are other benefits to switching
out sharp sutures for safer options. Dr. Mitchell says zipper closure
manufacturers tout better cosmetic end results, and the products
could improve SSI prevention because the zipper allows for fuller clo-
sure of the incision — "almost like an adhesive bandage and a zipper
all in one," she says.
Empowered to improve
Dr. Mitchell says facilities that aren't investigating sharps safety
options are at risk of violating the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 8 9
• SHARP DRESSED HAND Double-gloving gives your staff an extra layer of protec-
tion from sharps injuries.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR