Abstract
The increasing devolution of healthcare towards community care has meant that the management of many conditions is conducted within the home either by community nurses or by the patients themselves. The administration of medicines within home healthcare scenarios can however be problematic—especially when considering the delivery of medicines through injection. The possibility of needlestick injury (NSI) has become an ever-present hazard within healthcare settings, with a significant proportion of percutaneous injuries occurring during the handling and disposal of the needle. The emergence of transdermal microneedle systems, however, offers a potentially revolutionary advance and could dramatically improve safety—particularly within home healthcare where there are mounting concerns over the use and disposal of sharps. A mini-review of the advantages proffered by microneedle drug delivery technologies is presented and the potential impact on delivery of medicines within the home is critically appraised.
Highlights
Hypodermic injection is an invaluable clinical tool allowing the delivery of therapeutic agents that are otherwise unsuitable for administration through oral routes
There have been extensive surveys cataloguing the experiences of healthcare workers and the hazards posed by the use and disposal of needles [1,2,3]
Are notable in that it has been estimated that the incidence of sharps injuries dropped by some 34%
Summary
Hypodermic injection is an invaluable clinical tool allowing the delivery of therapeutic agents that are otherwise unsuitable for administration through oral routes. While the needles are small, their ability to puncture the skin renders them a potential sharps risk and their handling and disposal requires more than a modicum of caution The latter is evidenced by a recent health notice from Public Health England (2017) highlighting concern over the use of microneedle rollers used in cosmetic practice [12]. Given the potential translation of microneedle systems to HHC contexts, it is vital that the risk of accidental application and transmission of a BBP through careless use or disposal be acknowledged The aim of this mini-review is to examine the present state of play in terms of sharps waste within both clinical and home healthcare environments and to provide a critical appraisal of the potential opportunities that microneedle devices proffer for reducing NSI events. (Figures adapted from Reference [4])
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
