Sharps injury rates dropped by more than one-third in the year after the passage of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act (NSPA) of 2000, say researchers at the University of Virginia's School of Medicine in a recent issue of the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology (tinyurl.com/ozcjaxp). This decline, which continued for the next 4 years, represented more than 100,000 fewer injuries and $69 million to $415 million in cost savings annually.

More than a decade later, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (tinyurl.com/4f8mcwb), which includes the NSPA, isn't the only guidance available on identifying sharps risks and putting safer alternatives into practice. Among other regulatory agencies, accreditors and organizations, the American College of Surgeons recommends double-gloving, hands-free zones and blunt-tip suture needles to protect OR personnel.

But awareness doesn't always translate into compliance, says a survey conducted at Virginia Commonwealth University for the journal Surgical Infection, which cites respondents' complaints of reduced tactile sensation, a lack of training and a lack of available products as obstacles to the ACS's advice (tinyurl.com/mgytvpg).

If your facility plans to trial and implement re-engineered devices, work practice improvements or administrative controls with an eye on compliance and a safer surgical workplace, check out the following roundup of a selection of the latest sharps safety products.

— David Bernard

Accutome
AccuSharp Guarded Ophthalmic Knives
accutome.com
(800) 979-2020
Pricing: $38 to $70 per box of 6
FYI: Accutome has incorporated the quality and consistency of its reusable diamond knives into its AccuSharp line of single-use ophthalmic blades. Now its AccuSharp Guarded Ophthalmic Knives add safety into the mix, without adding cost. Available in a range of sizes and styles, including slit, stab and crescent, the knives feature a 2-piece handle system with protective guards for safer passing.

Ansell Sandel Medical Solutions
Disarm-It-All
ansell.com
(818) 534-2500
Pricing: not disclosed
FYI: Ansell Sandel's Disarm-It-All counting and disposal box helps to reduce the risk of sharps injuries and bloodborne pathogen exposure. In addition to enabling the easy counting of blades and needles, and securely locking for safe disposal, it also provides safe, single-handed removal of traditional scalpel and Beaver blades and syringe needles. Bright orange and highly recognizable on the sterile field, Disarm-It-All delivers OSHA-compliant sharps safety for surgical teams.

Aspen Surgical, a Hill-Rom Company
Bard-Parker Hands-Free Transfer Tray
aspensurgical.com
(888) 364-7004
Pricing: not disclosed
FYI: Strong, durable, lightweight and highly visible, this sharps transfer tray provides surgeons and staff with a method for organized, safe and effective passing of instruments and supplies with minimal risk of injury. Designed to hold the most commonly used scalpel and blade sizes, for easy handling, and with more stability than bowls or basins on uneven surfaces, the tray ensures compliance with recommended best practices from AORN, OSHA and the American College of Surgeons.

B. Braun
Introcan Safety 3 Closed IV Catheter
introcansafety.bbraunusa.com
(800) 227-2862
Pricing: about $2 each
FYI: From insertion to advancing the catheter to needle removal, the Introcan Safety 3 Closed IV Catheter is designed to avert needlestick injuries. Its fully automatic, passive safety shield cannot be bypassed or inadvertently activated. The multi-access blood control septum provides an additional level of protection against blood exposure. And the integrated stabilization platform minimizes catheter movement within the vessel.

Feather Safety Razor
Feather Safeshield Ophthalmic Scalpels
oasismedical.com
(800) 528-9786
Pricing: not disclosed
FYI: Distributed in the U.S. by Oasis Medical, Feather's Safeshield ophthalmic blades combine single-use plastic handles with stainless steel blades in incision, slit and round tunnel styles. Activate the safety feature by twisting the guard to release the lock, pulling it back to expose the blade and twisting it again to lock in place while the knife is in use.

Healthmark Industries
SST System
hmark.com
(800) 521-6224
Pricing: $31.05 to $504.95, depending on size
FYI: Healthmark's SST System enables simple, effective handling and transportation of soiled, reusable instruments between the point of use and the decontamination room. It consists of a solid base tray (filled with cleaning solution), a steri-strainer drain basket (which soaks in the solution) and a cover. Used instruments are deposited into the basket, which is covered after the case for safe transport. Reprocessing staff can then safely remove the basket. The SST System is available in a range of sizes.

OP-marks
Soffzone Neutral Zone Mat
opmarks.com
(866) 307-2757
Pricing: $30
FYI: OP-marks' Soffzone clearly delineates a neutral zone on the Mayo stand for safe sharps handling. The 6-by-9-inch, bright red mat is low in profile, high in visibility and heavy enough to remain securely in place. What's more, its solid silicone construction allows it to be autoclave sterilized for years of reuse, making the red tray a green choice for your OR.

Surgistar
Ophthalmic Safety Knives
surgistar.com
(865) 671-4300
Pricing: $40 to $72 per box of 6
FYI: With more than 20 years of experience in ophthalmic cutting instruments, Surgistar offers sharpness and consistency from knife to knife. The company's safety knives also meet OSHA's requirement to adopt safer sharps by offering simply activated, one-handed protection features. The knives, manufactured in Vista, Calif., are available in stab, crescent, phaco slit and MVR/sideport styles.