Disposable needle and syringe containers

Needle/syringe disposal in health care facilities should comply with current CDC, JCAH, and EPA recommendations. Most state laws require that needle/syringes be rendered inoperable for future use. However, this does not necessarily mean that needles have to be broken or bent. Needles/syringes that are placed in a puncture and leak-proof container that are eventually autoclaved or incinerated should satisfy the intent of these regulations. It must be emphasized that currently no data are available from controlled studies examining the effect, if any, of these devices on the incidence of needle-transmissible infections. However, common sense dictates that the new disposable containers are easier and safer to use and therefore should contribute to decreasing the incidence of needle puncture accidents among health care workers. A comprehensive program aimed at minimizing needle-stick accidents should address not only disposal devices and their accessibility at key locations, but also periodic inservice education.