Needleless and sharp-free anaesthesia

Accidental occupational infection of anaesthetists from patient body fluids is a very real and potentially fatal risk that will be significantly reduced with the routine use of universal precautions and the adoption of specific safe work practices. Employers are required by law to provide a safe working environment and safe systems for work which anaesthetists should implement according to recommendations in this paper. A protocol should be available to be acted upon in the event of occupational parenteral, mucous membrane and non-intact skin exposure to infected patient body fluids. Recommendations are made in six major areas of clinical practice which anaesthetists should adopt to minimize risks to themselves and other healthcare workers: loading syringes, cannulating blood vessels, administering intramuscular (IM) or local anaesthetic injections, administering intravenous (IV) drugs, use of sutures and surgical instruments by anaesthetists and the safe disposal of needles, glass ampoules and other sharp materials. Despite the known risks and the development of these safe practices there is poor compliance by anaesthetists with measures to safeguard themselves and others.