Risk of Transmission of Blood-borne Pathogens from Shared Use of Insulin Pens

Mar 20, 2009 07:43 AM

by AtomicWoman

FDA ALERT [03/19/2009]: The FDA is issuing this alert to remind healthcare providers and patients that insulin pens and insulin cartridges* (see description below) are never to be shared among patients. Sharing of insulin pens may result in transmission of hepatitis viruses, HIV, or other blood-borne pathogens.
The FDA has received information that insulin pens may have been shared among numerous patients (two thousand or more) in one hospital in the United States from 2007-2009 (http://www.wbamc.amedd.army.mil/), and in a smaller number of patients in at least one other hospital. Although the disposable needles in the insulin pens were reportedly changed for each patient, there is still a risk of blood contamination of the pen reservoir or cartridge. Patients who were treated with insulin pens at the hospitals in question are being contacted by the hospitals, and are being offered testing for hepatitis and HIV. Some of the potentially exposed patients have reportedly tested positive for hepatitis C; however it is not known if the hepatitis infection occurred through insulin pen sharing, or if those who tested positive had previously undiagnosed hepatitis C.

The current instructions for use for all insulin pens already state that the pens are not to be shared among patients. The FDA reminds healthcare providers, healthcare facilities, and patients that each insulin pen (and each insulin pen cartridge) is designed for single-patient use only and is never to be shared among patients. Insulin pens are not designed, and are not safe, for one pen to be used for more than one patient, even if needles are changed between patients because any blood contamination of the pen reservoir could result in transmission of already existing blood-borne pathogens from the previous user. The FDA is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), professional societies and healthcare organizations to reinforce patient and healthcare provider education about proper and safe use of insulin pens.

Source: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoShe...in_pensHCP.htm

rddsnurse · Mar 21, 2009, 09:15 PM

Re: Risk of Transmission of Blood-borne Pathogens from Shared Use of Insulin Pens

Seriously? They taught this in school.

AtomicWoman · Mar 21, 2009, 10:29 PM

Re: Risk of Transmission of Blood-borne Pathogens from Shared Use of Insulin Pens

I had the same thought. It seemed like such a forehead-slapper to me.

nerdtonurse? · Mar 23, 2009, 01:25 AM

Re: Risk of Transmission of Blood-borne Pathogens from Shared Use of Insulin Pens

I could see it in a home situation, you know, you and your spouse both have DM, you share your lantus pen, and they've been up to mischief, and you end up with HIV or Hep C. But in a hospital, are you NUTS?

But, then again, they had that situation in Las Vegas not long ago where they weren't sterilizing the colonoscopy equipment, and a bunch of people got Hep C., so....

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Risk of Transmission of Blood-borne Pathogens from Shared Use of Insulin Pens

Risk of Transmission of Blood-borne Pathogens from Shared Use of Insulin Pens

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