Research Study Shows That Needles and Syringes are Being Reused by Health Care Providers

For Immediate Release: November 14, 2002

CINCINNATI, OHIO - A study just completed by Cooper Research consisting of various health care providers who give medications through injections reveals that one in 100 reuse the same needle and/or syringe on multiple patients.

This study, conducted on behalf of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) was conducted among a random selection of health care providers in five different categories: anesthesiologists, physicians, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), nurses, and oral surgeons. This study was prompted by recent news reports of Hepatitis C outbreaks in Brooklyn, NY and Norman, OK, allegedly caused by health care providers reusing needles and/or syringes on multiple patients.

Despite infection control guidelines that advise against the reuse of needles and syringes on multiple patients, the survey results suggest that there is a lack of compliance among some health care providers.

According to Rodney Lester, "There is no excuse for ever reusing a needle or syringe on different patients." Mr. Lester, who is President of the 30,000 member AANA states, "It is most disturbing that even one percent of the health care providers surveyed do this, potentially exposing millions of patients each year to needles and/or syringes contaminated with Hepatitis, HIV, or other life-threatening infectious diseases."

The study shows that even though the percentage of health care providers that reuse syringes on multiple patients appears to be low, this translates into an alarming number of actual health care providers. For instance, in the anesthesia field alone, three percent of physician anesthesiologists and one percent of CRNAs amounts to roughly 750 anesthesiologists and 250 nurse anesthetists, or a total of 1,000 providers.

According to the AANA, reuse of the same needle and/or syringe on multiple patients is strictly forbidden in the infection control guidelines and practice standards of various professional associations. The use of the same needle and syringe on multiple patients is not allowed regardless of whether the provider uses needles or needleless systems to administer medications. Many health care facilities have gone to needleless systems in recent years as a safeguard against contamination and as a precaution against needle sticks for health care providers. However, even with needleless systems the reuse of syringes from patient to patient is not permissible.

According to Jim Faas, Senior Account Manager at Cooper Research, "This is an extremely important study that points out the importance of single use."

"While this study shows that there is not widespread carelessness among health care providers in the reuse of needles and syringes, it does point out that needle and syringe reuse does occur, which can potentially expose millions of patients to needless infections and potentially life-threatening diseases," says Robert Miller, Ph.D., President and CEO of Cooper Research.

Cooper Research, Inc., founded in 1983, is a leading national health care market research company. Cooper completes market research studies for health care systems, health insurance companies, medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and nationally based non-profit health care organizations.

For more information on any of the following releases and articles please contact:

Robert V. Miller, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Cooper Research, Inc.
513-489-8838
rmiller@cooper-research.com

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