Value of Needlestick Primary Prevention Emphasized in OSHA Ruling.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 3, 2003

The value of primary prevention for securing catheters is acknowledged by the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) on its newly revised Web site, the National Alliance for the Primary Prevention of Sharps Injuries (NAPPSI) announced today.

The new OSHA ruling states: "OSHA recognizes that eliminating the need to use suture needles decreases the risk of a potentially hazardous procedure. The use of sutureless securement devices is one method an employer can use to eliminate this potential needlestick hazard ... If an employer determines that an alternative to using sutures to secure catheters is appropriate and feasible, he must implement it..."

Sutureless securement devices -- developed by Venetec International (San Diego), a founder of the not-for-profit NAPPSI -- are a leading example of primary prevention technology.

"OSHA's ruling represents a major step forward for the primary prevention of sharps injuries," said Steve Bierman, M.D., CEO and medical director of Venetec. "The ruling clearly recognizes the superiority of eliminating needles to reduce risk to healthcare workers, as opposed to just using safer sharps. OSHA has affirmed the importance of NAPPSI's emphasis on using primary prevention whenever possible, to maximize sharps safety for healthcare workers."

Primary prevention means utilizing technologies and practices that either reduce or eliminate the need to use sharp medical implements. In contrast, secondary prevention renders safer those sharps that must be introduced into the healthcare workplace. NAPPSI supports both approaches -- that is, using primary prevention where applicable, and secondary prevention to fill the gaps.

The OSHA statement is contained in a "letter of interpretation" to Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R. -San Diego). The full text of the letter is available online at http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp. show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=24428&p_text_version=FALSE. (Due to the length of this URL, it may be necessary to copy and paste this hyperlink into your Internet browser's URL address field.)

OSHA's ruling was issued in response to a request by Rep. Cunningham, who applauded the new finding. "When Congress unanimously passed the Needlestick Safety and Protection Act, our intent was that the law provide the best protection to workers that was technologically available," said Cunningham. "OSHA's new ruling embodies that intent. It also gives more explicit direction to employers regarding the need to seek alternatives to suture securement of catheters. America's healthcare workers will significantly benefit from OSHA's action."

Every year, more than 600,000 American nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers are accidentally injured by needlesticks and other medical sharps. These injuries can expose them to potentially fatal bloodborne illnesses such as HIV and Hepatitis C. Suture-related needlesticks occur more frequently than any other sharps injury, in the opinion of many experts.

Venetec's StatLock device provides the sutureless catheter securement called for in the OSHA letter of interpretation.

Another technology distributed by a NAPPSI corporate member also helps employers reduce use of suture needles. The technology, Dermabond topical skin adhesive licensed by Ethicon Inc. (Sommerville, N.J.), can be used in place of sutures or staples to close wounds for numerous applications, including surgical incisions and trauma-induced lacerations.

Sutureless securement devices are available both separately and in sets with other technologies, including primary prevention devices developed by several other NAPPSI members. Sutureless securement devices as primary prevention technologies with the following devices:

-- Central venous catheter trays by Cook(R) Inc. that include a

needle-free injection cap;

-- PICC insertion kits by Bard Access Systems that come with a

safety introducer;

-- Arrow International central venous and PICC-midline trays;

-- HDC Corp. safety PICC dressing change kits;

-- Needle-free IV systems by B. Braun Medical Inc., Baxter

Healthcare, ICU Medical, Abbott Laboratories, BD, Medegen

Medical Manufacturing and Alaris Medical.

Other innovative technologies developed by NAPPSI members also reduce or eliminate the need to use needles or other medical sharps. Examples include:

-- A needleless device by Cell Robotics that draws capillary

blood with laser light.

-- Needle-free injection devices by Antares Pharma Inc. and

Bioject Medical Technologies Inc. that deliver insulin,

vaccines and other liquid medications through the skin via

high-pressure technology.

-- A hemodynamic monitor by Arrow International that provides a

non-invasive hemodynamic profile of patients.

Based in Carlsbad, Calif., NAPPSI is a non-profit organization dedicated to minimizing sharps injuries in the healthcare workplace. NAPPSI promotes primary prevention as the first line of defense for accomplishing this goal.

NAPPSI utilizes its monthly e-mail newsletter, a national speaker's bureau, public relations, and other activities to inform the media, decisionmakers, and clinicians about the value of primary prevention practices and products. NAPPSI's Clinician Advisory on healthcare worker safety and the organization's Needlestick Safety Device List -- which categorizes safety products as either primary or secondary prevention -- are widely disseminated by governmental and clinician organizations.

NAPPSI membership is free to individual clinicians. The organization's membership encompasses professional associations, more than 3,000 individual healthcare professionals, and medical device makers.

Other NAPPSI organizational members are:

-- Venetec International, www.Venetec.com, 800-833-3895;

-- Cell Robotics International (OTC BB: CRII),

www.CellRobotics.com, 505-343-1131;

-- Bioject Medical Technologies (NASDAQ:BJCT), www.Bioject.com,

503-639-7221;

-- ICU Medical (NASDAQ:ICUI), www.ICUmed.com, 800-824-7890;

-- ALARIS Medical Systems Inc. (AMEX: AMI), www.alarismed.com,

858-458-7000;

-- Calypte Biomedical Inc. (NASDAQ: CALY), www.Calypte.com,

877-CALYPTE (225-9783);

-- Arrow International (NASDAQ: ARRO), www.arrowintl.com,

800-233-3187;

-- B. Braun Medical, www.BBraunusa.com, 610-691-5400;

-- National Association of Residents and Interns,

www.NARI-assn.com, 800-221-2168 ext. 5;

-- D'Antonio Consultants International Inc.,

www.dantonioconsultants.com, 315-463-4999;

-- Helping Hands Sanctuary of Idaho Inc.,

www.healthcaretraining.org, 208-221-1611;

-- Association of Needle-Free Injection Manufacturers (ANIFM),

315-463-4999;

-- Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA),

www.HIDAnetwork.com, 703-549-4432;

-- ETHICON Inc., www.EthiconInc.com, 908-218-2783;

-- Abbott Laboratories, www.abbotthosp.com, 800-222-6883;

-- The Association of Occupational Health Professionals in

Healthcare (AOHP), www.aohp.org/aohp, 412-749-7328;

-- BD Inc. (Becton Dickinson) (NYSE: BDX), www.bd.com,

201-847-6800;

-- The Infusion Nurses Society (INS), www.INS1.org; 781-440-9408;

-- The National Association of Vascular Access Networks (NAVAN),

www.navannet.org, 888-57-NAVAN (888-576-2826);

-- The American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN),

www.aacn.org, 800-899-2226;

-- Canadian Intravenous Nurses Association (CINA),

www.csotcina.com, 416-445-4516;

-- Phlebotomy West, www.phlebotomywest.com, 925-240-0770;

-- Cook Inc., www.cookgroup.com, 800-457-4500;

-- Portex Inc., www.portexusa.com, 603-352-3812;

-- Hema Metrics Inc., www.hemametrics.com, 800-546-5463;

-- Antares Pharma, www.antarespharma.com, 610-458-6200;

-- HDC Corp., www.hdccorp.com, 408-942-7340;

-- Medegen Medical Manufacturing Inc., www.Medegen.com,

800-520-7999;

-- Bard Access Systems Inc., www.bardaccess.com, 801-595-0700;

-- Infection Control Today, www.infectioncontroltoday.com,

480-990-1101;

-- The International Association of EMT's and Paramedics (IAEP),

www.iaep.org, 617-376-0220;

-- The Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN),

www.aorn.org, 800-755-2676.

-- Medi-Flex Inc., www.medi-flex.com, 800-523-0502;

-- American Association of Occupational Health Nurses

(AAOHN),:www.aaohn.org, 770-455-7271.

-- Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses (APON), www.apon.org,

847-375-4854.

-- Baxter Healthcare, www.baxter.com, 847-270-3769.

-- Association for Professionals in Infection Control and

Epidemiology Inc. (APIC), www. [e-mail],

202-789-1890.

For NAPPSI membership and other information, call 858-350-8623, email [e-mail], or access www.NAPPSI.org.