Sharps container

Sharps container

A sharps container is a container that is filled with used medical needles (and other sharp medical instruments, such as an IV catheter). They fit into two main types:
* single use which are disposed of with the waste inside,
* reusable which are robotically emptied and sterilised before being returned for re-use.

It is standard practice in developed countries for used needles to be placed immediately into a sharps container after a single use. Re-using needles is generally not done in developed countries, as a single use starts to dull them and renders them unsterile. Sharing needles is often the cause of AIDS(HIV) and other blood-borne infections spreading among intravenous drug users.

Needles are dropped into the container without touching the outside of the container. Needles should never be pushed or forced into the container, as damage to the container and/or needlestick injuries may result. In most countries around the world, recapping and de-notching needles is also no longer accepted practice.

Proper use of a sharps container includes pick up by or delivery to an approved "red bag" or medical waste treatment site. In addition to this pre-existing safety measure, all U.S. medical and educational staff are federally required to be tested on their knowledge of bloodborne pathogens.

The most common sharps containers (red plastic in the US, yellow plastic elsewhere) were first developed in 1979 when [http://www.frontier-group.co.uk Frontier Plastics Ltd] of South Wales in the UK recognized the need for a purpose designed container for the safe disposal of clinical sharps - developing the original [http://www.sharpsafe.co.uk Sharpsafe] container which was first marketed in 1980.

During the last ten years, increased worldwide focus on safety and environmental impact has led to several positive government mandates being issued regarding engineered medical device standards and the reduction of clinical waste output from health facilities. This has resulted in a move toward reusable containers with built-in safety devices such as trays and locking devices. An example of this type is the Sharpsmart system, developed by [http://www.danielsinternational.com Daniels Sharpsmart] in 1986 and now used around the world.

ee also

*Needle remover
*Needle-exchange programme

External links

* [http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/epinet/ International Health Care Worker Safety Center (EPINet)]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sharps waste — is a form of medical waste composed of used sharps , which includes any device or object used to puncture or lacerate the skin. Sharps waste is classified as biohazardous waste and must be carefully handled. Common medical materials treated as… …   Wikipedia

  • Needle remover — a wall mounted sharps container Needle removers are devices that physically remove a needle from a syringe. In developing countries, there is still a need for improvements in needle safety in hospital settings as most of the needle removal… …   Wikipedia

  • Needlestick injury — Classification and external resources ICD 10 W46 ICD 9 E92.05 MeSH …   Wikipedia

  • непрокалываемый контейнер для остроконечных предметов — Емкость для сбора отработанных медицинских остроконечных предметов (например, игл). См. также Safety box (контейнер безопасности), Sharps container (контейнер для хранения отработанных острых предметов и инструментария). [Англо русский глоссарий… …   Справочник технического переводчика

  • коробка для безопасного уничтожения острых медицинских отходов — КБУ Предназначена для сбора и уничтожения острых предметов и инструментария; представляет собой непрокалываемую ёмкость, в которую помещают шприцы и иглы сразу после их использования для временного хранения до уничтожения. [Англо русский… …   Справочник технического переводчика

  • Universal precautions — Under Universal Precautions all patients are considered to be possible carriers of blood borne pathogens. The guideline recommends wearing gloves when collecting or handling blood and body fluids contaminated with blood and wearing face shields… …   Wikipedia

  • Biological hazard — Biohazard Infection Classification and external resources Biohazard symbol Biohazard redirects here. For other uses, see Biohazard (disambiguation). Biological hazards, refer to biological substances that pose a threat …   Wikipedia

  • Needle-exchange programme — Contents of a needle exchange kit A Needle syringe programme (NSP) or syringe exchange programme (SEP) is a social policy based on the philosophy of harm reduction where injecting drug users can obtain hypodermic needles and associated injection… …   Wikipedia

  • Tattoo artist — A tattoo artist (also tattooer or tattooist) is a person who applies permanent decorative tattoos, often in a dedicated business called a tattoo shop, tattoo studio or tattoo parlour. Tattooers usually learn their craft via an apprenticeship… …   Wikipedia

  • Tattoo studio — A tattoo studio (also tattoo shop, tattoo studio, and tattoo parlour) is a place where people receive permanent decorative tattoos from a tattoo artist. Tattoo studiosThe properly equipped tattoo studio will use biohazard containers for objects… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”