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Reuse of disposable insulin syringes
Author(s) -
Stepanas Tony V.,
Turley Helen,
Tuohy Elizabeth A.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1982.tb132320.x
Subject(s) - syringe , medicine , reuse , insulin , surgery , contamination , waste management , biology , engineering , ecology , psychiatry
Seventeen insulin‐dependent diabetics reused 111 disposable plastic syringes (Terumo 40/80‐U; detachable needle) a total of 2363 times. Each syringe was used for an average of 12.2 days (range, one to 80 days), making an average of 21.3 injections each (range, two to 126 injections). There were no injection‐related in‐fections or local reactions. Six syringes from four patients were contaminated by non‐pathogenic skin organisms (Staphylococcus albus and Bacillus spp.) without any detrimental effects. Contamination was independent of duration of syringe use or skin preparation technique. The reuse of plastic disposable insulin syringes appears to be a safe, cost‐saving practice.