Multiple reuse of disposable insulin syringes in hospital

In a prospective study disposable insulin syringes were repeatedly used for injecting insulin to 92 insulin-taking diabetic patients admitted in hospital with various illnesses. One separate syringe was used for each patient; the syringes were not washed or boiled and were not kept in spirit or in refrigerator during reuse. Syringes were flushed with air, needle recapped and replaced into their plastic cover. Number of injections made using one syringe was 2 to 120 (mean 31.3, SEM 2.3). For the patients' total insulin - taking period in hospital one disposable syringe per patient was enough in all but six cases. There were 2792 reinjections and incidence of infection of the injection site was zero.