Reusing Huber needles?

queenjean · Jul 20, 2008

Do you mean on one pt (as in, reusing the same needle a couple of times on Mr. X when he gets his pump refilled) or reusing the same needle on different pts?

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Jul 20, 2008

I've never heard of that. However, there is an increasingly common practice of hospitals re-using single use devices to save money.

There is increasing regulatory oversight of this process. Here is a link to an FDA site about the issue:

http://www.fda.gov/CDRH/reprocessing/

The FDA says "Available data show that SUDs can be reprocessed with a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness. FDA believes that reprocessed SUDs that meet FDA's regulatory requirements are as safe and effective as a new device. The law and regulations in place are designed to protect the public health by assuring that the practice of reprocessing and reusing SUDs is based on sound science. FDA continues to monitor the performance of these devices and to assess and refine our ability to regulate these devices appropriately."

buster4 · Jul 21, 2008

I mean reusing on different patients.. after being autoclaved??.. somehow it doens't seem prudent??

ICRN2008, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2008

Yes, this FDA info refers to re-using single-use devices on a different patient after reprocessing

queenjean · Jul 21, 2008

I don't know how I feel about this; I mean, some surgical instruments get autoclaved and reused. Shouldn't these be sharpened, too?

The only huber needles I have seen have a plastic butterfly like piece; there is no way that could be autoclaved.

In general, I think you are setting yourself up for a world of trouble in the form of a lawsuit if in the process of reusing single use devices you have a pt that develops a disease they cannot explain. Even if they didn't get the hep C from the reused single use device, they are going to assume they did, and whether they did or not, the lawsuit will be a huge expense, and so will the fallout from the PR nightmare.