Joint Commission Issues Warning About Unsafe Injection Procedures
The Joint Commission recently released an alert aimed at bringing awareness to unsafe injection procedures. A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed data over the last 13 years and found that thousands of patients have been adversely affected by the misuse of contaminated vials.
Trends that Cause Alarm
The CDC reports that since 2001 at least 49 outbreaks were attributed to the incorrect use of vials. Twenty-one of the 49 resulted in the transmission of hepatitis B or C, and 28 resulted in bacterial infections. Emphasizing the possible scope of infection, more than 150,000 individuals had to be notified about their exposure and had to undergo pathogen testing. However, TJC warns that lapses in infection control practices are often underreported. Even more alarming, a CDC study also revealed two-thirds of ambulatory surgical centers reported failings in their infection control practices and 28 percent said they reused single-dose vials on multiple patients.
Raising Awareness
The consequences of unsafe injection procedures can be devastating to the patient, their family and the provider. Many patients require prolonged care and some died from their exposure. Health care organizations and providers faced significant legal consequences, disciplinary action and financial ramifications. To raise awareness, the CDC launched its "One & Only" campaign, a partnership with the Safe Injection Practices Coalition and individual states. The campaign's goal is to raise awareness about safe injection practices, including:
- Maintaining adequate supplies
- Having a designated medication preparation station
- Provide infection control training for all staff
Make safe injection practices training part of your medical practice management routine. You can read TJC's full alert here, along with a complete list of their specific tips.