Dirty medical needles put tens of thousands at risk in USA (infections, skin)

[goldengrain]

Dirty medical needles put tens of thousands at risk in USA

. . . was found in 2008 to have put 13,000 patients at risk of hepatitis and other illnesses by reusing syringes, victims raised concerns because no criminal penalties were available for such practices.

This article cites cases in which sloppy practices, mostly in doctor's offices and medical clinics, probably for cost cutting purposes, are spreading Hepatitis, MRSA, and Aides to innocent patients.

Reusing drug vials meant for only one application and reusing needles only meant for one use - even in the same patient - are not to be permitted.

I am not a medical professional. I think you can get Hepatitis from any shot, so I am not sure how reusing the same needle on the same patient would be a greater risk than using two needles.

Swabbing the paraphernalia with a disinfectant would seem safe.

I do not argue with the article: I think it's terrible that all these people have become ill, some very seriously, because of cost cutting or sloppy practices.

I just would like to understand why, if things are disinfected, this is spreading disease. Doctors used to reuse needles all the time, but I think they were autoclaved, which probably killed everything.

When the article says 'swabbed' could they mean JUST with a swab, and no disinfectant?

Hepatitis is all around us, to my knowledge and any shot can give it to you.
MRSA - does disinfectant not kill this?
Aides - shouldn't swabbing handle this?

[AnonChick]

A needle is a hollow tube with a pointy end. When you inject someone, you are sinking part or all of the tube's length under the skin. That means, whatever is under the skin, is getting INSIDE the tube. Including germs, disease, blood, and whatever else. If you are just swabbing the outside surface with disinfectant, you're still leaving the inside of the tube with traces of whatever was in the skin of whoever it was sunk into last.

[goldengrain]

Originally Posted by AnonChick

A needle is a hollow tube with a pointy end. When you inject someone, you are sinking part or all of the tube's length under the skin. That means, whatever is under the skin, is getting INSIDE the tube. Including germs, disease, blood, and whatever else. If you are just swabbing the outside surface with disinfectant, you're still leaving the inside of the tube with traces of whatever was in the skin of whoever it was sunk into last.

Thank you.

[Katie1]

In the old days when Needles were being reused thay had Autoclave - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia To sterlize them. In todays disposable world I dont know of Any Drs Office that have them any more. Not sure if it woud sterlize or melt plastic syringes.

[suzy_q2010]

No, you cannot autoclave plastic. It would indeed melt.