Development and application of a syringe needle cap with base

Abstract

Objective To overcome the instability of the center of gravity when the opening end of the needle cap of existing ordinary syringes is placed vertically upward, the syringe needle is not easy to insert, and it is difficult to return the needle cap with one hand. When placed horizontally, the opening is close to the operating table, and when the needle cap is returned with one hand, the needle tip is easy to contact the area beyond the inner surface of the needle cap, resulting in pollution and the disadvantage of easy rolling. Methods A square base is set at the closed end of the needle cap of ordinary syringes to develop a needle cap that can easily return to the sleeve with one hand when placed vertically or horizontally.A questionnaire survey was conducted among 125 nursing staffs to evaluate the efficacy.The incidence of both hands returning to the needle cap after preparing the standby medicine solution and intramuscular injection 1 month before and after application of needle cap with base syringe were compared. Results Compared with the common syringe needle cap, the nursing staffs believed that the needle cap with base was superior to the common syringe needle cap in stability, safety, anti-pollution, handling and anti-rolling, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01). After the application of needle cap of syringe with base, the incidence of double hand needle cap (10.29%)was significantly lower than that before the application(19.93%), and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01). After intramuscular injection, the incidence rate of the double hand needle cap(2.94%) was significantly lower than that before application(14.46%), and the difference was statistically significant(P=0.02). Conclusions Compared with the common syringe needle cap, the syringe needle cap with base is easier to return the needle with one hand, which can improve the execution rate of the single-hand needle cap and reduce the incidence of the two-handed needle cap. Key words: Syringes; Recapping; Needlestick injuries; Sharp instrument injury