thedrifter
07-28-03, 05:33 PM
Hepatitis C Alert: Military air gun shots
All health Departments, State, County, Military should consider stop using air gun for giving shots... local media should research & cover this..
Hepatitis C Intelligence Report
Texas Hepatitis C Political Action Committee
TexasHepPac@aol.com
Hep C Alert!
Veterans seeking service-connected disability for Hepatitis C based on military air gun injections may be interested in the following. Many of us, throughout the nation, are individually filing our service connected disability claims. If you are interested, contact a veterans service officer near you.
Home MethodsStatementsThe Liver
JET GUN INJECTIONS Boot Camp, Paris Island 1968
Jet Injectors Capable of Transmitting Blood-Borne Pathogens
August 03, 2001 by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - Jet injectors may be ideal for mass immunization programs but not until design refinements eliminate their capacity to transmit blood-borne infections, say researchers working in England.
The injectors, which are needleless systems that penetrate skin with high-pressure fluid, have potential advantages over needles and syringes, but P.N. Hoffman and associates at the Laboratory of Hospital Infection, London, sought to determine whether they might have a major disadvantage as well.
They used a highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect whether small amounts of blood and fluid remained in the jet injector after injecting inert buffer into calves.
All four injectors tested - two with reusable heads and direct skin contact, one with single-use injector heads, and one with an injector head that discharged at a distance from the skin - contained at least 10 pl of blood, enough to transmit hepatitis B infection, reported Hoffman and coworkers ("A model to assess the infection potential of jet injectors used in mass immunisation," Vaccine, July 2001;19(28-29):4020-4027).
"The source of the contamination was consistent with contamination by efflux of injected fluid and blood from the pressurized pocket in tissue that is formed during injection," reported Hoffman and coauthors. "This insight should inform the design of safe jet injectors."
For more information about this study contact P.N. Hoffman, Laboratory of Hospital Infection, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Ave., London NW9 5HT, UK.
Key points reported in this study include: * Needleless jet injector systems are potentially beneficial for mass immunization programs, but they may transfer blood-borne viruses * Researchers used a highly sensitive ELISA to evaluate whether small volumes of blood remained in the jet injectors after injecting calves with a buffer solution * All four injector models tested transmitted more than 10 pl of blood, the minimum amount required for hepatitis B transmission, and the quality of the blood was consistent with efflux from the pressurized pocket created by the jet injector
This article was prepared by Vaccine Weekly editors from staff and other reports.
To see more of the NewsRx.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.newsrx.com . Potential for cross-contamination from use of a needleless injector. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that needleless injectors become contaminated during in vitro use and direct contact with contaminated surfaces and that needless injectors carry over the contamination to subsequent sites of release. The replacement of the injector's rubber cap with a new one after initial discharge or the removal of an exposed rubber cap and immersion of the head of the injector in 2% glutaraldehyde followed by a rinse of the head in sterile water, as recommended by one injector manufacturer, can minimize or eliminate the carryover. Cost of tetanus toxoid injection using a jet-injector (Imule) in collective immunization in Senegal: comparison with injection using a syringe and resterilizable needle] Needle-less jet injectors were developed by the US army after World War II. Their principal use, however, has been in the adimiistration of lyophilized vaccines from multidose vials to at-risk populations in developing countries. In 1983, a hepatitis B epidemic occurred among customers of a beauty clinic in California (USA)following the use of jet-injectors, demonstrating a clear risk of cross-contamination associated with this technique. As a result, the WHO and UNICEF stopped recommending jet-injectors for collective immunizations in developing countries
Jet injectors may transmit blood-borne infections "Considering That in similar situations there is a theoretical risk of transmission as high as 1 per 388"... " conclusion can be reached that jet injectors can be safely used in the medical practice if they are protected by the sterile anticontaminant disposable device"
An outbreak of hepatitis B associated with jet injections in a weight reduction clinic. None of the 22 persons who had received injections only by syringe experienced hepatitis B virus infection. Stopping the use of the jet injectors on July 2, 1985, at clinic 1, was associated with the termination of this outbreak. This investigation demonstrated that jet injectors can become contaminated with hepatitis B virus and then may be vehicles for its transmission.
INFO: Potential for Cross-Contamination From Use of a Needleless Injector. The in vitro fluorescein indicator tests conducted in this study clearly show that needleless injectors become contaminated on use. The contact of the injector’s discharge orifice, head, and rubber cap with surfaces simulating body tissues and fluids during the in vitro tests generally resulted in the contamination of these 3 sites on the device.
Virus transmission by subcutaneous jet injection. The virus infection was transmitted by subcutaneous jet injection in 16 cases out of 49. Other routes of cross-infection were ruled out. Before using the jet injector as a harmless instrument for mass subcutaneous injection, further experiments on the risks of virus transmission should be performed
Possible infectious causes in 651 patients with acute viral hepatitis during a 10-year period (1976-1985). Six hundred and fifty-one patients with acute viral hepatitis were identified serologically between January 1976 and December 1985. Of these, 109 (17%) had hepatitis A, 135 (21%) had hepatitis B, and 407 (62%) had hepatitis non-A, non-B..."For hepatitis non-A, non-B, the most important infectious cause was medical procedures (65%)"... These data suggest that hepatitis non-A, non-B can be a kind of nosocomial disease.
JUL 9, 1998 THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301-1200 HEALTH AFFAIRS Dr Sue Bailey: " However, there is concern that use of jet injectors may pose a potential risk for translating bloodborne infections to vaccine recipients. Laboratory studies in Brazil and the United Kingdom suggest that bloodborne transmission theoretically could occur with use of jet injectors.....a DoD Medical Quality Assurance System Device Alert on December 9, 1997, recommended that use of all jet injectors be discontinued. This action was taken in response to a letter from Ped-O-Jet International, the manufacturer of the jet injector product most commonly used in DoD. The manufacturer notified us that they were discontinuing producing and servicing their product... they "strongly urged the Armed Forces to discontinue use of the product" until studies conclude that no risk is present for bloodborne disease transmission.
National Immunization Program Centers for Disease Control "To date, the transmission of the hepatitis C virus by "air gun" vaccination has not been documented. However, in theory, it is entirely possible that the virus can be transmitted in this fashion. The transmission of the hepatitis B virus (which is also transmitted by blood exposure) by this type of instrument has been documented in a very small number of cases. The hepatitis C virus can be transmitted by the use of an unsterilized needle by more than one person. It is possible that you were exposed to the hepatitis C virus in either of the instances you mention.
Suzanne Johnson-DeLeon, M.P.H.
Bilingual Health Educator
National Immunization Program
Centers for Disease Control World Health Organization Statements on Jet Gun Injection and Transmission of Blood Born Pathogens the metal cap was found to be contaminated after 1 in 7 injections
continued............
All health Departments, State, County, Military should consider stop using air gun for giving shots... local media should research & cover this..
Hepatitis C Intelligence Report
Texas Hepatitis C Political Action Committee
TexasHepPac@aol.com
Hep C Alert!
Veterans seeking service-connected disability for Hepatitis C based on military air gun injections may be interested in the following. Many of us, throughout the nation, are individually filing our service connected disability claims. If you are interested, contact a veterans service officer near you.
Home MethodsStatementsThe Liver
JET GUN INJECTIONS Boot Camp, Paris Island 1968
Jet Injectors Capable of Transmitting Blood-Borne Pathogens
August 03, 2001 by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - Jet injectors may be ideal for mass immunization programs but not until design refinements eliminate their capacity to transmit blood-borne infections, say researchers working in England.
The injectors, which are needleless systems that penetrate skin with high-pressure fluid, have potential advantages over needles and syringes, but P.N. Hoffman and associates at the Laboratory of Hospital Infection, London, sought to determine whether they might have a major disadvantage as well.
They used a highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect whether small amounts of blood and fluid remained in the jet injector after injecting inert buffer into calves.
All four injectors tested - two with reusable heads and direct skin contact, one with single-use injector heads, and one with an injector head that discharged at a distance from the skin - contained at least 10 pl of blood, enough to transmit hepatitis B infection, reported Hoffman and coworkers ("A model to assess the infection potential of jet injectors used in mass immunisation," Vaccine, July 2001;19(28-29):4020-4027).
"The source of the contamination was consistent with contamination by efflux of injected fluid and blood from the pressurized pocket in tissue that is formed during injection," reported Hoffman and coauthors. "This insight should inform the design of safe jet injectors."
For more information about this study contact P.N. Hoffman, Laboratory of Hospital Infection, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Ave., London NW9 5HT, UK.
Key points reported in this study include: * Needleless jet injector systems are potentially beneficial for mass immunization programs, but they may transfer blood-borne viruses * Researchers used a highly sensitive ELISA to evaluate whether small volumes of blood remained in the jet injectors after injecting calves with a buffer solution * All four injector models tested transmitted more than 10 pl of blood, the minimum amount required for hepatitis B transmission, and the quality of the blood was consistent with efflux from the pressurized pocket created by the jet injector
This article was prepared by Vaccine Weekly editors from staff and other reports.
To see more of the NewsRx.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.newsrx.com . Potential for cross-contamination from use of a needleless injector. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that needleless injectors become contaminated during in vitro use and direct contact with contaminated surfaces and that needless injectors carry over the contamination to subsequent sites of release. The replacement of the injector's rubber cap with a new one after initial discharge or the removal of an exposed rubber cap and immersion of the head of the injector in 2% glutaraldehyde followed by a rinse of the head in sterile water, as recommended by one injector manufacturer, can minimize or eliminate the carryover. Cost of tetanus toxoid injection using a jet-injector (Imule) in collective immunization in Senegal: comparison with injection using a syringe and resterilizable needle] Needle-less jet injectors were developed by the US army after World War II. Their principal use, however, has been in the adimiistration of lyophilized vaccines from multidose vials to at-risk populations in developing countries. In 1983, a hepatitis B epidemic occurred among customers of a beauty clinic in California (USA)following the use of jet-injectors, demonstrating a clear risk of cross-contamination associated with this technique. As a result, the WHO and UNICEF stopped recommending jet-injectors for collective immunizations in developing countries
Jet injectors may transmit blood-borne infections "Considering That in similar situations there is a theoretical risk of transmission as high as 1 per 388"... " conclusion can be reached that jet injectors can be safely used in the medical practice if they are protected by the sterile anticontaminant disposable device"
An outbreak of hepatitis B associated with jet injections in a weight reduction clinic. None of the 22 persons who had received injections only by syringe experienced hepatitis B virus infection. Stopping the use of the jet injectors on July 2, 1985, at clinic 1, was associated with the termination of this outbreak. This investigation demonstrated that jet injectors can become contaminated with hepatitis B virus and then may be vehicles for its transmission.
INFO: Potential for Cross-Contamination From Use of a Needleless Injector. The in vitro fluorescein indicator tests conducted in this study clearly show that needleless injectors become contaminated on use. The contact of the injector’s discharge orifice, head, and rubber cap with surfaces simulating body tissues and fluids during the in vitro tests generally resulted in the contamination of these 3 sites on the device.
Virus transmission by subcutaneous jet injection. The virus infection was transmitted by subcutaneous jet injection in 16 cases out of 49. Other routes of cross-infection were ruled out. Before using the jet injector as a harmless instrument for mass subcutaneous injection, further experiments on the risks of virus transmission should be performed
Possible infectious causes in 651 patients with acute viral hepatitis during a 10-year period (1976-1985). Six hundred and fifty-one patients with acute viral hepatitis were identified serologically between January 1976 and December 1985. Of these, 109 (17%) had hepatitis A, 135 (21%) had hepatitis B, and 407 (62%) had hepatitis non-A, non-B..."For hepatitis non-A, non-B, the most important infectious cause was medical procedures (65%)"... These data suggest that hepatitis non-A, non-B can be a kind of nosocomial disease.
JUL 9, 1998 THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301-1200 HEALTH AFFAIRS Dr Sue Bailey: " However, there is concern that use of jet injectors may pose a potential risk for translating bloodborne infections to vaccine recipients. Laboratory studies in Brazil and the United Kingdom suggest that bloodborne transmission theoretically could occur with use of jet injectors.....a DoD Medical Quality Assurance System Device Alert on December 9, 1997, recommended that use of all jet injectors be discontinued. This action was taken in response to a letter from Ped-O-Jet International, the manufacturer of the jet injector product most commonly used in DoD. The manufacturer notified us that they were discontinuing producing and servicing their product... they "strongly urged the Armed Forces to discontinue use of the product" until studies conclude that no risk is present for bloodborne disease transmission.
National Immunization Program Centers for Disease Control "To date, the transmission of the hepatitis C virus by "air gun" vaccination has not been documented. However, in theory, it is entirely possible that the virus can be transmitted in this fashion. The transmission of the hepatitis B virus (which is also transmitted by blood exposure) by this type of instrument has been documented in a very small number of cases. The hepatitis C virus can be transmitted by the use of an unsterilized needle by more than one person. It is possible that you were exposed to the hepatitis C virus in either of the instances you mention.
Suzanne Johnson-DeLeon, M.P.H.
Bilingual Health Educator
National Immunization Program
Centers for Disease Control World Health Organization Statements on Jet Gun Injection and Transmission of Blood Born Pathogens the metal cap was found to be contaminated after 1 in 7 injections
continued............