Certificate in Infection Prevention and Control Nursing
Video Transcript
Safe Injection Practices
Welcome to this learning session on safe injection practices
Overview
This session on safe injection practices will help you learn the safe injection practices,
the different types of vials, an aseptic technique to administer an injection, prevention
of needlestick injuries.
Objectives
By the end of this session, you will be able to
• Describe the single or multiple dose vials
• Identify safe injection procedures to avoid transmission of infections
• Explain the standard guidelines to prevent needle stick injuries.
Introduction
Safe injection causes no harm to the patient who is injected. However, when the
standard guidelines are not practiced, injection may lead to
• Injection abscesses
• Transmission of blood-borne infections
Moreover, an unsafe technique can also expose a healthcare worker to needle stick
injuries. Specific precautions are to be followed to prevent unsafe injections.
Single Dose and Multiple Dose Vial
• It is important to note that even a multiple-dose vial is for a single patient
only. All parenteral medications must be administered from single-dose
vials whenever possible. Leftover vials must not be combined or reused.
Note that both the syringe and needle used to access medication from
multi-dose vials must be single-use and sterile. Opened Multi-dose vials
must be labeled with the date of opening and the patient’s name and must
be stored according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Discard if sterility
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Certificate in Infection Prevention and Control Nursing
is in question. Multi-dose vials must not be stored with needles inserted
into them.
• Intravenous bags and tubing must be used for a single patient. After use,
they must be disposed of appropriately. If a syringe or needle has entered
an infusion bag or has been used to connect the cannula, it is considered
contaminated and must be discarded.
Aseptic Technique of Injection
Aseptic technique refers to all measures to prevent contamination of the injection
equipment and medication. Use single-use sterile equipment for every injection
performed and restrict it to a single patient. Perform hand hygiene before delivery of
injections. Use gloves if appropriate. Rubber tops of the vials and ampoule surfaces
must be adequately cleaned with 70% alcohol. The injection site must be cleaned, and
antisepsis performed with an appropriate antiseptic. This video demonstrates the
aseptic technique for injection. <video>
Skin Preparation for Injection
It is important to Preparation the skin for Injection as follows:
• Wipe the area with 70% alcohol-based solution using single-use wipes or
cotton.
• Do not use pre-soaked cotton.
• The area must be wiped from the center outward without going over the
same area twice. Wait for 30 seconds and allow the solution to dry.
• Check all injections for appropriateness before administration, that it
matches the patient drug chart.
• Reconstitution must be done according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Sterile needles and syringes must be used for reconstitution and
withdrawal of the medicine.
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Certificate in Infection Prevention and Control Nursing
Prevention of Needlestick Injuries
It is important to follow certain precautions to prevent needle stick injuries
• Ensure that the patient is adequately placed and informed about the
procedure. An agitated patient may increase the risk for needle stick injury.
• Do not bend break or mutilate needles after use.
• Do not recap a needle. If recapping, the single-handed scoop method must
be followed. Needles and sharps must not be passed by hand between
personnel during use. If the sharp needs to be transferred to someone else,
use a kidney tray.
• All used sharps like needles, ampoules, scalpels, and blades must be
discarded into a puncture-proof container. Sharps discard container must
be placed within arm’s reach in a secure location. Replace the sharps
discard container once it is three fourth full.
This image demonstrates the precautions to be taken for the prevention of
needlestick injuries.
Conclusion
We have reached the end of this session, let us conclude.
Unsafe injection practices can put healthcare providers and patients at risk of
infectious and non-infectious adverse issues. Safe injection practices are part of
Standard Precautions to prevent healthcare-associated infections. It is aimed at
maintaining basic levels of patient safety and provider protection. According to the
World Health Organization, a safe injection does not harm the recipient, does not
expose the healthcare provider to any preventable risks, and does not lead to waste
that is harmful to the community.