Research has shown that approximately 93 percent of all needle sticks are IV related. These usually occur when piggybacking through a “Y” site on the IV line or with intermittent IVs through the access port. Other instances occur when lines are left dangling after being disconnected.

The next most common occurrence for needle sticks is from needles protruding through a sharps container. There are two ways that this seems to happen. One is when the sharps container is over filled and needles fall out. The other is when they are crammed into a crowded container and poke out through the side or top. Sharps containers should never be filled more than two-thirds full and then the container should be sealed and properly disposed of according to your facility's protocol.

The needleless system virtually eliminates the needle stick problem from IVs. You simply cannot get stuck with something that is not there. Other forms of needle safety for hypodermic needles have been adopted across the country as well. These include needle guards that fold over the needle and syringes that allow the needle to be retracted after use. These systems help to reduce needle sticks from sharps containers by adding another barrier, but the sharps container should never be over filled.

If your facility does not employ these systems, you should encourage the administrators to investigate their use and safety. Until then, you must continue to employ safeguards to protect yourself from a needle stick. Never recap and always have a sharps container within reach to dispose of the syringe and needle immediately after injection.

In the unlikely event of a needle stick, you must report it immediately. You need to be tested for exposure to such diseases as HIV and hepatitis B and C. Precautions need to be taken and possible future care needs to be ensured. Don't put yourself and your rights at risk by hiding the event.