Safer Needles and Practices Reduce HIV Infections

by Alex A. Kecskes

While most bloodborne HIV infections occur through injection of illegal drugs, unsafe needles and practices during transfusions and injections of legal drugs still account for alarming number of new HIV infections.

HIV testing of donor blood was not implemented until 1985, four years after the first case of AIDS was reported. Between 1985 and 1992, the United States, France and Romania had the highest number of AIDS diagnoses resulting from HIV infection via transfusions. During this seven-year span, more than 8,000 people in the US are thought to have acquired HIV through transfusion.

Improvements in injection devices have helped to stem bloodborne HIV infections. One such improvement is the single dose, pre-filled Auto-Disable (AD) injection device (used for vaccinations). The AD syringe features a one-way valve, which makes the syringe useless after one use. AD syringes are used mainly for immunization programs where injection equipment is often reused. AD syringes are safe regardless of the locale and cost only 2 cents more than traditional syringes.

While the attention is often focused on developing countries, healthcare facilities in developed countries are still not 100 percent safe. In 2008, a health clinic in Las Vegas was closed after it was discovered that syringes were being reused and that colonoscopy equipment was not being cleaned between patients. The CDC campaign slogan “One Needle, One Syringe, Only One Time” is aimed at health workers in America.

For an added perspective, check out this video:

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