Diabetes device-related infections a growing concern, CDC says

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Diabetes device-related infections a growing concern, CDC says

September 2, 2011 by MassDevice staff

Improper use of glucose monitoring and insulin delivery devices in clinical

settings has the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention worried about an

uptick in infectious disease transmission.

The number of patients exposed to blood-borne infections during diabetes

testing, glucose monitoring and insulin delivery in group settings is on the

rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

Misused equipment and improperly trained staff have forced thousands to undergo

blood testing for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C over the past decade, but an

aging population and increasing rate of diabetes has the CDC concerned about an

uptick in potential outbreaks.

Bad hospital practices were blamed in the most recent patient advisory, when

more than 2,300 patients were potentially exposed to infectious disease at a

Wisconsin hospital where a fingerstick blood glucose sampling pen wasn't

properly cleaned between uses.

" The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has become increasingly

concerned about the risks for transmitting hepatitis B virus (HBV) and other

infectious diseases during assisted blood glucose (blood sugar) monitoring and

insulin administration, " the CDC reported. " Reports of HBV (hepatitis

infection outbreaks linked to diabetes care have been increasing. "

The problem is of particular concern in long-term care facilities where patients

often need help testing their glucose levels and injecting insulin.

" In the last 10 years, alone, there have been at least 15 outbreaks of HBV

infection associated with providers failing to follow basic principles of

infection control when assisting with blood glucose monitoring, " according to

the CDC's site. " Due to under-reporting and under recognition of acute

infection, the number of outbreaks due to unsafe diabetes care practices

identified to date are likely an underestimate. "

In 2010 dozens of health fair attendees in New Mexico were put at risk when a

fingerstick device was reused. In 2009 more than 2,000 people were urged to

undergo testing after individual insulin pens were used for multiple patients.

In the Wisconsin outbreak, patients were potentially exposed to HIV and other

diseases over the course of five years when a nurse, who was a certified

diabetic educator and who left her job two weeks ago, used a fingerstick pen on

multiple patients. Her job was to train newly diagnosed diabetics on proper

glucose monitoring and insulin injection, the Associated Press reported.

A hospital whistleblower reported the nurse for using a fingerstick pen meant

for demonstration on inanimate objects on patients. She used a clean needle each

time, but blood can backflow into the pen's reservoir and contaminate the next

person pricked by the pen.

No incidence of actual disease exposure were found as of Monday, according to

the news wire.

" This is what we call infection control 101, " CDC epidemiologist Joe Perz told

the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. " One of the most common myths is that

contamination is limited to the needle. An insulin cartridge is a form of

syringe. And a syringe and needle should be seen as a single device. One can

contaminate the other. "

News Well, Diabetes, Diseases, Insulin Management