Needleless Systems for Intravenous Therapy: Implications for Australian Infection Control

Abstract

Infection Control Practitioners (ICP) are often responsible for recommending the piloting or introduction of new devices in clinical settings. The obligation of employers to provide staff and patients with equipment which minimises their risk of acquiring either occupational or nosocomial infection has lead to an increase in the number of safety devices available. Infection Control practitioners must be prudent in their judgement of both the merits and potential complications of introducing new equipment. This paper reviews existing literature on needleless devices and illustrates the need for ICP to be competent in assessing and undertaking research on new devices and the issues to be considered by ICP in their product evaluation.