Needlestick injuries from insulin injections are an ongoing threat to the safety of healthcare workers¹
In a survey, almost 1 in 4 nurses have suffered a needlestick injury from giving injections to patients with diabetes.²*
*400 nurses in 381 different hospitals in the US voluntarily completed a survey.
Consequences run far beyond the moment of
accidental needlestick injury
Financial
Direct and indirect costs—including follow-up treatment and lost productivity—can total over $3,000 for a single needlestick injury.³†
Biological
Potential exposure to over 20 types of blood-borne viruses with lasting impact.⁴
Psychological
Damage to healthcare workers’ emotional well-being, from immediate distress to subsequent occupational anxiety.⁵
Financial
Direct and indirect costs—including follow-up treatment and lost productivity—can total over $3,000 for a single needlestick injury.³†
Biological
Potential exposure to over 20 types of blood-borne viruses with lasting impact.⁴
Psychological
Damage to healthcare workers’ emotional well-being, from immediate distress to subsequent occupational anxiety.⁵
†Based on a systematic review of 12 studies published between January 1990 and June 2003 that reported the cost of a single needlestick injury. The estimated total cost of a needlestick injury ranged from $51 to $3,766, with costs reported in the studies inflated to 2002 US dollars whenever possible.
Building a culture of safety is essential to reducing needlestick injuries in your institution⁶
Clinical guidelines include the following recommendations to reduce NSIs:
- 4mm and 5mm pen needles or 6mm insulin syringes should be used without a pinch-up technique⁷‡
- Both ends of the safety pen needle should have a protective covering⁷
- Needles should not be recapped⁷
‡Patients ≤6 years old or very thin adults may require a pinch-up.⁸
In addition, CDC guidance suggests that manufacturers play an important role in promoting a culture of safety through innovation, education, training, and selection of appropriate safety-engineered devices.⁶
Backed by nearly 100 years of legacy through our heritage with BD, embecta offers safety-engineered devices to support your culture of safety
BD AutoShield Duo™
Safety Pen Needle
Consider the BD AutoShield Duo™ Safety Pen Needle and the BD SafetyGlide™ Insulin Syringe to help reduce accidental needlestick injuries in your institution.
Our team is here to help!
Learn more about our safety solutions, ask questions, or order an insulin injection technique training toolbox.
References: 1. Frid AH, Kreugel G, Grassi G, et al. New insulin delivery recommendations. Mayo Clin Proc. 2016;91(9)(suppl appendix 14):1-3. 2. Lee JM, Botteman MF, Nicklasson L, Cobden D, Pashos CL. Needlestick injury in acute care nurses caring for patients with diabetes mellitus: a retrospective study. Curr Med Res Opin. 2005;21(5):741-747. 3. Lee JM, Botteman MF, Xanthakos N, Nicklasson L. Needlestick injuries in the United States: epidemiologic, economic, and quality of life issues. AAOHN J. 2005;53(3):117-133. 4. Yang L, Mullan B. Reducing needle stick injuries in healthcare occupations: an integrative review of the literature. ISRN Nurs. 2011. doi: 10.5402/2011/315432 5. Matsubara C, Sakisaka K, Sychareun V, Phensavanh A, Ali M. Anxiety and perceived psychological impact associated with needle stick and sharp device injury among tertiary hospital workers, Vientiane, Lao PDR. Ind Health. 2020;58(4):388-396. 6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Workbook for Designing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Sharps Injury Prevention Program. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2008. Accessed October 6, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety/pdf/sharpsworkbook_20
-08.pdf 7. Frid AH, Kreugel G, Grassi G, et al. New insulin delivery recommendations. Mayo Clin Proc. 2016;91(9):1231-1255. 8. Hirsch LJ, Strauss KW. The injection technique factor: what you don’t know or teach can make a difference. Clin Diabetes. 2019;37(3):227-233.
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