Needle-stick injury: a novel intervention to reduce the occupational health and safety risk in the haemodialysis setting.

Needle-stick injury (NSI) is a major occupational health and safety issue facing healthcare professionals. The administration of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) in haemodialysis patients represents a major cause for injections. The purpose of this initiative was to familiarise nursing staff with needle-free administration of an ESA in haemodialysis patients to reduce the risk of NSI. Epoetin beta comes in a commercial presentation with a detached needle. Epoetin beta was administered to 10 haemodialysis patients via the venous bubble trap short line of the haemodialysis circuit. An audit was conducted that included a retrospective assessment of NSI for the previous six months; and a prospective assessment for eight weeks to assess whether there is a nursing staff preference for needle-free administration of ESA. There were no reports of NSI in the needle-free group. Haemoglobin levels were maintained. Ninety-one percent of the nursing staff preferred needle-free administration of ESA. In conclusion, the commercial presentation of epoetin beta with the detached needle presents an opportunity to reduce the potential risk of NSI in haemodialysis units.