Preventing injection infections involves strict adherence to safe injection practices. Here’s how:
According to infectionpreventionandyou.org, crucial steps include:
- Washing your hands meticulously before administering any injection.
- Using a sterile, new needle and syringe for each injection.
- Ensuring that a syringe is used for only one person, even when accessing medication vials.
Detailed Steps for Preventing Injection Infections
Hand Hygiene
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer before handling any injection equipment or administering a shot.
Sterile Equipment
- Always use a new, sterile needle and syringe for each injection. Reusing needles or syringes, even on the same person, can lead to infections.
- Never share needles or syringes. Sharing equipment spreads infections like HIV and hepatitis.
Single-Use Vials
- Multi-dose vials can be used for multiple patients in some situations, but strict aseptic technique must be followed, including cleaning the vial's diaphragm with alcohol before each entry.
- Single-dose vials are meant for one-time use only. Discard any remaining medication.
Aseptic Technique
- Avoid touching the needle or syringe tip after removing it from the packaging.
- Clean the skin at the injection site with an antiseptic wipe before administering the injection.
- Use a new alcohol swab to clean the vial top each time you access the vial for medication.
Proper Disposal
- Dispose of used needles and syringes immediately in a sharps container to prevent accidental sticks and infections.
By following these guidelines, the risk of injection-related infections can be significantly reduced.
