Needle Shield, a Device to Prevent Needlestick Injuries

Abstract

A self-recoil needle shield was invented as a simple device to protect health care workers from accidental needlestick injuries. The transparent plastic shield can slide feely along the syringe with self-recoil force from the rubber band. Along with this device injections (135 intramuscularly, 130 intravenously, and 2 venepunctures) were performed in 93 children, aged 1 day to 12 years, without any needlestick inuries compared to those without the device (129 intramusculary, 222 intravenously) performed in 110 children of the same age group, 1 injury was found. It will be beneficial to use this protective device in uncooperative youngster patients to avoid needlestick injuries and reduce the risk of HIV infection in addition to the universal percaution