{"id":10234,"date":"2025-03-01T14:03:13","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/dhan267\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:50:54","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:50:54","slug":"dhan267","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan267\/","title":{"rendered":"php\/alerts\/dhan267 ~  Division of Public Health &#8212; Health Alert  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\"> \n\n    <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/php\/alerts\/dhan267.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n      <\/a>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n    \n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n      <h1>Delaware Health Alert Network #<!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Number\"]-->267 <!--[END]--> <\/h1>\n\n      <h2> <!--[type=EDIT name=\"DHAN Date\"]-->April 12, 2012 8:40 am <!--[END]--> <\/h2>\n\n    <\/header>\n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n \n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Public Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dph\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/about.html\">About DPH<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/sections.html\">Sections &#038; Programs<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ofclocations.html\">Office Locations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/contact.html\">Contact Info<\/a><\/li>\n      \n        <li><a href=\"\/calendars.html\" target=\"_blank\">Calendar<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#ServicesMenu\"><h2>Services <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"ServicesMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesaz.html\">A-Z Services<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/environmental.html\">Air &#038; Water Quality<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ss\/vitalstats.html\">Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/clinics.html\">Clinics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthdatastats.html\">Health Data &#038; Statistics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/emsps.html\">Emergency Preparedness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthandwellness.html\">Health &#038; Wellness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthyhomes.html\">Healthy Homes<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthywp.html\">Healthy Workplaces<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/lab\/labs.html\">Laboratory<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/feir.html\">Restaurant Inspections<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/screen.html\">Screening and Testing<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/chca\/dphwichominf01.html\">WIC<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesadd.html\">Additional Services<\/a><\/li><li>\n      <\/li><\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#InformationMenu\"><h2>Information <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"InformationMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/factsheetsaz.html\">A-Z Fact Sheets<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/pubreportsaz.html\">A-Z Publications &#038; Reports<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/diseasesandconditions.html\">Diseases &#038; 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Some of the patients had to be\n\n\n  admitted to the hospital due to the infections. This communication serves to remind providers that single-use vials are intended for\n\n\n  single use only and typically lack any antimicrobial preservative to help prevent the growth of potential contaminating bacteria.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Background\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Over the past several decades, there has been a shift in healthcare delivery from the acute, inpatient hospital setting to a variety of\n\n\n  ambulatory care settings. Vulnerable patient populations rely on frequent and intensive use of ambulatory care to maintain or improve\n\n\n  their health. It is critical that this care be provided under conditions that minimize or eliminate risks of healthcare-associated\n\n\n  infections.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  All healthcare settings, regardless of the level of care provided, must be equipped to observe Standard Precautions. \u00a0Standard\n\n\n  Precautions include: 1) hand hygiene, 2) use of personal protective equipment, 3) safe injection practices, 4) safe handling of\n\n\n  potentially contaminated equipment or surfaces in the patient environment, and 5) respiratory hygiene\/cough etiquette.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Injection Safety\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Injection safety includes practices intended to prevent transmission of infectious diseases between one patient and another, or between a\n\n\n  patient and healthcare provider during preparation and administration of parenteralmedications.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Unsafe practices that have led to outbreaks and patient harm include 1) use of a single syringe, with or without the same needle, to\n\n\n  administer medication to multiple patients, 2) reinsertion of a used syringe, with or without the same needle, into a medication vial or\n\n\n  solution container to obtain additional medication for a single patient and then using that vial or solution container for subsequent\n\n\n  patients, 3) preparation of medications in close proximity to contaminated supplies or equipment, 4) inappropriate use of\n\n\n  single\/multi-dose vials.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Key Recommendation for Safe Injection Practices in Ambulatory Care Settings\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<ol>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Use aseptic technique when preparing\/administering medication.<\/strong>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Cleanse the access diaphragms of medication vials with 70% alcohol before inserting a device into the vial.<\/strong>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Never administer medications from the same syringe to multiple patients, even if the needle is changed or the injection is\n\n\n    administered through an intervening length of intravenous tubing.<\/strong>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Do not reuse a syringe to enter a medication vial or solution.<\/strong>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Do not administer medications from single-dose, ampoules, or bags of intravenous solution to more than one patient.<\/strong>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Do not use fluid infusion or administration sets for more than one patient.<\/strong>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Dedicate multi-dose vials to a single patient whenever possible. If multi-dose vials will be used for more than one patient,\n\n\n    they should be restricted to a centralized medication area and should not enter the immediate patient treatment area.<\/strong>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Dispose of used syringes and needles at the point of use in a sharps container that is closable, puncture-resistant, and\n\n\n    leak-proof.<\/strong>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Adhere to federal and state requirements for protection of healthcare providers from exposure to bloodborne pathogens.<\/strong>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n  Additional Information:\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  For more specific information, call DPH Bureau of Epidemiology 1-888-295-5156 or refer to the following websites:\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>Questions about Single-dose\/Single \u2013use Vials<br>\n\n\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/injectionsafety\/providers\/provider_faqs_singlevials.html\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/injectionsafety\/providers\/provider_faqs_singlevials.html<\/a>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Questions about Multi-dose Vials<br>\n\n\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/injectionsafety\/providers\/provider_faqs_multivials.html\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/injectionsafety\/providers\/provider_faqs_multivials.html<\/a>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Safe Injection Practices to Prevent Transmission of Infections to Patients<br>\n\n\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/injectionsafety\/IP07_standardPrecaution.html\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/injectionsafety\/IP07_standardPrecaution.html<\/a>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Injection Safety \u2013 Information for Providers<br>\n\n\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/injectionsafety\/providers.html\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/injectionsafety\/providers.html<\/a>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Injection Safety \u2013 FAQ Regarding Safe Practices for Medical Injections<br>\n\n\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/injectionsafety\/providers\/provider_faqs.html\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/injectionsafety\/providers\/provider_faqs.html<\/a>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Guide to Infection Prevention for Outpatient Settings<br>\n\n\n    <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/pdf\/standatds-of-ambulatory-care-7-2011.pdf\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/HAI\/pdfs\/guidelines\/standatds-of-ambulatory-care-7-2011.pdf<\/a>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Infection Prevention Checklist for Outpatient Settings<br>\n\n\n    <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/pdf\/ambulatory-care-checklist-07-2011.pdf\">http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/HAI\/pdfs\/guidelines\/ambulatory-care-checklist-07-2011.pdf<\/a>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Medscape CME Activity:\u00a0 Unsafe Injection Practices: Outbreaks, Incidents, and Root Causes<br>\n\n\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.medscape.org\/viewarticle\/745695\">http:\/\/www.medscape.org\/viewarticle\/745695<\/a>\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  ************\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  You are receiving this message because you are a registered member of the Delaware Health Alert Network. If you are not a member and\n\n\n  would like to subscribe, please register at <a href=\"https:\/\/healthalertde.org\">https:\/\/healthalertde.org<\/a>\n\n\n<\/p><br>\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n<p class=\"smalltext\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Download Adobe Acrobat Reader\" height=\"21\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/dhss\/img\/getacro60.gif\" width=\"60\"><\/a> Please note: Some of the files available on this page are in Adobe PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.  A free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded directly from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\">Adobe <\/a>. If you are using an assistive technology unable to read Adobe PDF, please either view the corresponding text only version (if available) or visit Adobe&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/access.adobe.com\">Accessibility Tools page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--[END]-->\n\n  \n\n        <div class=\"panel panel-danger\">\n\n          <div class=\"panel-heading\">    \n\n      <h2>Categories of Health Alert messages:<\/h2>\n\n       <\/div>\n\n       <div class=\"panel-body\">\n\n      <ul>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Alert:<\/strong> Conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.<\/li>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Advisory:<\/strong> Provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n        <li><strong>Health Update:<\/strong> Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.<\/li>\n\n            <\/ul>\n\n         <div><strong>NOTE: This page is for informational purposes only and dated material (e.g. temporary websites) may not be available.<\/strong><\/div>\n\n          <\/div> \n\n        <\/div><br>  \n\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n  <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen Delaware Health Alert Network #267 April 12, 2012 8:40 am Public Health Menu Home About About DPH Sections &#038; Programs Office Locations Contact Info Calendar Services A-Z Services Air &#038; Water Quality Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records Clinics Health Data &#038; Statistics Emergency Preparedness Health &#038; Wellness Healthy Homes Healthy Workplaces Laboratory Restaurant Inspections [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":9294,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-10234","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10234","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10234"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10234\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11410,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10234\/revisions\/11410"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9294"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}