A network of pediatric primary care clinics in North Texas sought to reduce contaminated needlesticks and improve sharps safety. The network reported a zero percent contaminated needlestick rate from syringes within approximately two years post-implementation.
Needlestick reduction: Switching from user-activated safety devices to VanishPoint® automated retraction syringes cut contaminated needlestick injuries by 50% in the first year and achieved a zero percent contaminated needlestick rate in approximately two years of implementation.
Pilot results: Following a pilot by frontline users, the decision was made to implement VanishPoint syringes in all locations. The rollout revealed that user-activated devices left gaps in protection, while VanishPoint eliminated incidents except at one site that delayed adoption.
Staff acceptance: Nurses and clinical staff overwhelmingly favored the retractable syringes, reporting they were safer, easier to use, and preferable to previous devices.
Training and rollout: Structured education and phased adoption across 35 locations were essential in overcoming initial hesitation and ensuring consistent safe use.
Broader implications: The project demonstrated that organizational commitment, education, and staff engagement are critical to successfully implementing new sharps safety technologies.
Conclusion: Passive, automated retraction devices like VanishPoint provided a decisive improvement over user-activated safety systems, protecting both staff and patients while setting a strong precedent for sharps safety in healthcare networks.
A network of pediatric primary care clinics in North Texas sought to reduce contaminated needlesticks and improve sharps safety. Following the 2001 Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, the pediatric network collected baseline data and continually sought safer devices. After piloting several safety-engineered options, the network selected VanishPoint retractable syringes, which automatically retract the needle upon completion of the injection. The device was rolled out across all practices, and the results were dramatic: contaminated needlestick incidents dropped by half compared to the previous year. The network reported a zero percent contaminated needlestick rate from syringes within approximately two years post-implementation. Staff responded very positively, and the system argues that the change meets the safety needs of patients, caregivers, and regulatory expectations.
Managing Infection Control, January 2008
