Background
Protection against needlestick injuries has significantly improved in recent years
thanks to so-called “safety devices.” However, a potential drawback occasionally reported
by users is a risk of blood splashing. If this blood comes in contact with the mucous
membranes, it could lead to an infection.
Methods
Five safety peripheral intravenous catheter brands were examined in a laboratory test.
To simulate the extreme situations, which may arise through human use, the introducer
needle was withdrawn from the catheter at 2 different angles whereby an industrial
robot was used to simulate the sequence of this movement. Each brand was tested 30
times. The experiment was carried out using radioactively labeled human whole blood.
The measurements for the transmitted volume of blood was taken both from an artificial
head and from a surface measuring 18.5 cm by 26.5 cm at a height of 30 cm above the
catheter; scintigraphy was used to take the measurements.
Results
The volume of blood droplets potentially splashing into the mucous membranes was in
the range of 1 nL.
Conclusion
For normal virus concentrations in the blood of sick patients, this dose is too small
to cause hepatitis C and HIV.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 23, 2013
Footnotes
Supported by the B. Braun Melsungen Company for material, a scientific assistant during the experiments, and the translation of the text into English.
Conflicts of interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
