Administering injections

 

Administering injections An aseptic technique should be followed for all injections. Practical guidance on administering injections General

• When administering an injection:

        – check the drug chart or prescription for the medication and the             corresponding patient’s name and dosage;

         – perform hand hygiene;

        – wipe the top of the vial with 60–70% alcohol (isopropyl alcohol or ethanol)         using a swab or cotton-wool ball;

        –open the package in front of the patient to reassure them that the syringe         and needle    have not been used previously;

        –using a sterile syringe and needle, withdraw the medication from the         ampoule or vial. Reconstitution

 • If reconstitution using a sterile syringe and needle is necessary, withdraw the reconstitution solution from the ampoule or vial, insert the needle into the rubber septum in the single or multidose vial and inject the necessary amount of reconstitution fluid.

• Mix the contents of the vial thoroughly until all visible particles have dissolved.

• After reconstituting the contents of a multidose vial, remove the needle and syringe and discard them immediately as a single unit into a sharps container.

Needleless system

 • If a needleless system is available:

        – wipe the rubber septum of the multidose vial with an alcohol swab;

        – insert the spike into the multidose vial;

        – wipe the port of the needleless system with an alcohol swab;

        – remove a sterile syringe from its packaging;

        – insert the nozzle of the syringe into the port; –withdraw the reconstituted         drug. Delay in administration

• If the dose cannot be administered immediately for any reason, cover the needle with the cap using a one-hand scoop technique.

• Store the device safely in a dry kidney dish or similar container.

Important points

 • DO NOT allow the needle to touch any contaminated surface.

• DO NOT reuse a syringe, even if the needle is changed.

• DO NOT touch the diaphragm after disinfection with the 60–70% alcohol (isopropyl alcohol or ethanol).

• DO NOT enter several multidose vials with the same needle and syringe.

• DO NOT re-enter a vial with a needle or syringe used on a patient if that vial will be used to withdraw medication again (whether it is for the same patient or for another patient).

• DO NOT use bags or bottles of intravenous solution as a common source of supply for multiple patients (except in pharmacies using laminar flow cabinets).