ABSTRACT
Injection is one of the important health care procedures used globally to administer drugs. Its unsafe use can transmit various blood borne pathogens. This article aims to review the history and status of injection practices, its importance, interventions and the challenges for safe injection practice in developing countries. The history of injections started with the discovery of syringe in the early nineteenth century. Safe injection practice in developed countries was initiated in the early twentieth century but has not received adequate attention in developing countries. The establishment of “Safe Injection Global Network (SIGN)” was an milestone towards safe injection practice globally. In developing countries, people perceive injection as a powerful healing tool and do not hesitate to pay more for injections. Unsafe disposal and reuse of contaminated syringe is common. Ensuring safe injection practice is one of the greatest challenges for healthcare system in developing countries. To address the problem, interventions with active involvement of a number of stakeholders is essential. A combination of educational, managerial and regulatory strategies is found to be effective and economically viable. Rational and safe use of injections can save many lives but unsafe practice threatens life. Safe injection practice is crucial in developing countries. Evidence based interventions, with honest commitment and participation from the service provider, recipient and community with aid of policy makers are required to ensure safe injection practice.
INTRODUCTION
The WHO(2004) research shows that over 12 billion of injections administered are unsafe injection. Health care workers are exposed to the risk of blood-borne diseases such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C in their daily encounter with infected patients and materials through unsafe injections. Injection is an important health care procedure used worldwide for administration of drugs. Billions of injections are used worldwide for curative care and for immunization. In developing countries, approximately 16 thousand million injections are administered – a rate of 3.4 (range 1.7-11.3) injections per person per year. Majority of the injections are unnecessary and are not used safely. Reuse of injection equipment in the absence of sterilization is common.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE I
ATTESTATION II
CERTIFICATION III
DEDICATION IV
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT V
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION VI
TABLE OF CONTENTS VII
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Information 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 2
1.3 Justification of the study 3
1.4 Objectives of the Study 3
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Definition of injection, safe injection, unsafe injection 4-7
2.2 Steps of giving safe injection 8
2.3 Safe Choices matter 11-12
2.4 Interventions and challenges for save injection practice 13
2.5 Safe disposal of used injections equipments 14
2.6 Training community health practitioners on injection safety 14-15
2.7 Advocacy for injection safety 16 2.8 Roles of other health progammes in promoting injection safety 17
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.0 METHODOLOGY 18
CHAPTER FOUR: DISCUSSION
4.0 DISCUSSION 19
CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSIONS
5.0 CONCLUSIONS 20
5.1 RECOMMENDATION 21
REFERENCES 22
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND
Injection safety, or safe injection practices, is a set of measures taken to perform injections in an optimally safe manner for patients, healthcare personnel, and others. The Standard Precautions section of the 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions provides evidence- based recommendations for safe injection practices and reflects the minimum standards that healthcare personnel should follow to prevent transmission of infections in healthcare settings.(Brokensha,1999). Despite these recommendations, outbreaks and patient notifications resulting from healthcare personnel failing to adhere to Standard Precautions and basic infection control practices continue to be reported.(Bhattarai,2000). Unsafe injection practices that have resulted in disease transmission have most commonly included:(Brokensha,1999; Bhattarai,2000).
Using the same syringe to administer medication to more than one patient, even if the needle was changed or the injection was administered through an intervening length of intravenous (IV) tubing(Drucker,2001).
Accessing a medication vial or bag with a syringe that has already been used to administer medication to a patient, then reusing contents from that vial or bag for another patient Using medications packaged as single-dose or single-use for more than one patient Failing to use aseptic technique when preparing and administering injections For these reasons, CDC reminds healthcare personnel of thefollowing practices that are critical for patient safety(Reeler,1990):
Never administer medications from the same syringe to more than one patient, even if the needle is
- changed or you are injecting through an intervening length of IV tubing.
- Do not enter a medication vial, bag, or bottle with a used syringe or needle.
- Never use medications packaged as single-dose or single-use for more than one patient. This includes ampoules, bags, and bottles of intravenous solutions.
- Always use aseptic technique when preparing and administering injections.
