Safer syringes may reduce STD infection among healthcare personnel

A newly designed syringe may reduce the number of medical employees contracting blood-born diseases from accidental needlesticks. Healthcare officials report that approximately 1 million related injuries occur each year, which contributes to the spread of many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including hepatitis B and C, syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes and HIV/AIDS.

The syringe, which has been developed and manufactered by Protectus Medical Devices, is only useful if a nurse or healthcare employee is properly administering an injection or taking fluid samples from a patient. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predict that by incorporating this equipment into regular health treatments, approximately 80 percent of all needlestick accidents could be avoided.

Marc Barbanell, a former Marine with a medical background, stated that "if a nurse were to lose control of this syringe or have it knocked out of her hands, she'd automatically be protected as a spring-activated plastic sheath instantly covers the needle, rendering it harmless and incapable of sticking anyone accidentally."

Among the reported incidents, some 2,000 healthcare personnel contract hepatitis C, while 400 individuals are infected with hepatitis B each year.