Safe Needles Save Lives

Nurses Call for Action Aimed at Safer Needless

Geneva 1 December 2004  - Speaking out on International AIDS Day, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) and the Standing Committee of Nurses in the EU (PCN) are calling for immediate EU action to provide safer needles in order to protect EU healthcare workers from the threat of HIV/AIDS and other blood-borne diseases.  It is estimated that healthcare workers in Europe suffer one million needle stick injuries each year, of which 40% relate to nurses. 

These injuries caused by needles and other sharp medical devices put nurses at risk of infection with serious and potentially fatal diseases and are a major threat to the health and safety of nurses across the European Union today.  When a health worker suffers an injury from a contaminated ‘sharp’, there is a risk of infection of hepatitis B for 1 in 3 workers, 1 in 30 health workers are at risk for hepatitis C and 1 in 300 for HIV.

“A safe and healthy workplace for nurses is necessary for safe patient care.  Implementing control measures, such as safer needle devices and training on universal precautions, which have proved effective for the prevention of over 80% needlestick injuries will assure that nurses can continue to provide quality patient care,” says Judith Oulton, ICN’s Chief Executive Officer.

“We urge the EU to invest in a combination of training, safer working practices and the use of medical devices incorporating needlestick protection technology in order to prevent many of these potentially fatal injuries”, added Paul de Raeve, General Secretary of PCN.

Despite the efforts of the European Commission and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, healthcare workers remain at risk.  The physical, social and psychological suffering, the distress, sickness and absenteeism resulting from ‘sharps’ injuries constitute a considerable strain on the already difficult working conditions and limited workforce.  Even if no subsequent infection occurs, healthcare workers who have experienced needlestick injuries suffer from emotional strain while undergoing testing and awaiting results.  

In the UK, nurses and midwives sustain 41% and doctors 35% of exposures to blood-borne pathogens.  In Spain, according to a national study by EINETAC from 1998 – 2000, of the 11,660 exposures to blood-borne diseases detected, 46% were suffered by nurses; 85.4 % of these exposures were needlesticks.  In France, of the 13 proven cases of occupational HIV infection (caused by an occupational exposure), 12 were in nurses.  France has the widest use of safer needle devices in Europe and, since implementing safer devices, has reduced ‘sharps’ injuries by two-thirds.

Editor’s Note:

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of 129 national nurses' associations representing the millions of nurses worldwide. Operated by nurses for nurses since 1899, ICN is the international voice of nursing and works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies globally.

ICN/PR04 #15

Joint Statement by

The Standing Committee of Nurses in the European Union (PCN) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN)

Safe Needles Save Lives
Nurses Call for EU Action Aimed at Safer Needle Devices

Summary
Injuries caused by needles and other sharp medical devices and the related risk of infection with potentially fatal disease are a major threat to the health and safety of nurses across the European Union today. The physical, social and psychological suffering, the distress, sickness and absenteeism resulting from sharps injuries constitute a considerable strain on the already difficult working conditions and limited workforce.

What are the specific risks to nurses?
Nurses suffer the majority of sharps injuries.  These occur in patient rooms and the operating theatre. Doctors, auxiliary staff, cleaners and laundry staff are also at risk. Additionally medical devices incorporating needles are frequently used for self-treatment outside of the conventional healthcare setting and this can create additional dangers for the general public. Many injuries occur as a result of failure to properly dispose of the sharp item. In this case there is additional suffering as the source patient is unknown.

It is estimated that healthcare workers in Europe suffer 1 million needle stick injuries each year, of which 40% relates to nurses. In suffering an injury from a contaminated ‘sharp’, the risk of transmission of infections is 1 in 3 workers for hepatitis B, 1 in 30 for hepatitis C and 1 in 300 for HIV.

Needlestick injury from hollow bore blood filled sharp objects is the primary route through which healthcare workers occupationally acquire blood borne and potentially fatal diseases. High-risk procedures include blood collection, IV cannulation and injection. Suture needles, scalpel blades and glass items used daily by hospital staff also offer real risk if these devices have been in contact with contaminated blood.

European Solutions
Despite the efforts of the European Commission and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, healthcare workers remain at risk. A significant disparity is beginning to grow with regard to the protection of healthcare workers across the EU. Therefore we urge the EU to invest in a combination of training, safer working practices and the use of medical devices incorporating needlestick protection technology in order to prevent many of these potentially fatal injuries. We call on the EU Institutions to communicate clear policy and requirements to Member States in view of ensuring consisting compliance with existing EU Worker Safety and Health Directives among EU healthcare providers, and in particular:

	Use of ‘Sharps Protection’ Technology, such as safer needle devices and sharps containers at the point of use, especially for high-risk medical procedures.
	Safer working practices, including the elimination of unnecessary injections and sharps, use of immunization against hepatitis B, protective clothing, safe disposal, and effective response in case of injury including post-exposure prophylaxis.
	Better information and education of healthcare workers on the risks of exposure, prevention methods and effective incident reporting.

The medical technology solutions available in Europe today, to help protect healthcare workers include:

• Needles that are blunted, sheathed or retracted after use. Needle-free systems for certain applications.
• Medical devices with shielded cutting blades.

Statement Sponsors

The Standing Committee of Nurses of the EU (PCN) was established in 1971.  PCN represents over one million nurses and is the independent voice of the profession. Members consist of national nurses’ associations from the twenty-five EU Member States.  Associate Members are drawn from nursing associations in countries which are members of the Council of Europe.  The mission of PCN is to safeguard the status and practice of the profession of nursing and the interests of nurses in the EU and Europe Rue de la Concorde, 53 - 1050 Brussels – Belgium Tel.: +32 2 512 74 19 - Fax: +32 2 512 35 50 Email:      Web: www.pcnweb.org

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) is a federation of 129 national nurses associations representing the millions of nurses worldwide.  ICN is the international voice of nursing and works to ensure quality care for all and sound health policies globally 3, Place Jean-Marteau - 1201 Geneva – Switzerland Tel: +41 22 908 01 00 - Fax: + 41 22 908 01 01 E-mail:      Web: www.icn.ch

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