Needleless systems

[CADIAZ3 at aol.com]

An excellent person to contact would be Sandra Jo Hammer, Immunization =
Consultant for the California Dept. of Health.  Her e-mail address is:
<SHammer at dhs.ca.gov>=20

Just an aside, we are going to safety syringes (retractable needles) =
beginning in 2001 in all our PHN offices in Wyoming.  We've done pilot =
testing with Vanish Point (Retractable Technologies) and have selected =
that type of system as best meeting out needs for correct needle gauge, =
length and safety features.

Also, on the z-track, I've never seen that recommended for ALL intramuscula=
r injections, just for medications which cause problems with leakage.  =
Manufacturers have not recommended that for flu injections, nor have other =
recognized immunization authorities such as the Advisory Committee for =
Immunization Practice, American Academy of Pediatrics, etc.

We administer about 50,000 doses of flu vaccine per year (standard IM =
technique--not z-track) with minimal amounts of tenderness (soreness) at =
the injection site.  We do make sure we give our flu injections with at =
least a 1 inch long needle (longer if the adult is large).  One problem we =
have noted is that some manufacturers supply pre-filled syringes with a =
5/8 inch syringe, which we consider inadequate for an IM injection.  We =
have chosen not to use those in Wyoming.

Hope that helps.

Jackie Cushing, M.S.N., R.N., P.H.N.
JCushi at state.wy.us


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