Danger of multiple use of insulin pen needles for diabetic patients

Abstract

Aim. To evaluate the risk of multiple use of BD Micro-Fine Plus insulin pen needles in terms of their contamination with microflora, pain and localreaction at the injection site. Materials and methods. The study included 45 patients aged above 18 yr with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (DM1 and DM2) treated with shortorultrashort-acting insulins TID. Account was taken of the time each needle was used (once, for 4 and 7 days). Microbiological analysis was madeat the respective time points. Pain sensation after injection was evaluated by patients themselves using a visual-analog scale and severity of local reactionsby the physician. Results. Microbial growth was documented in 20 and 33,3% of the patients who used needles ones or many times respectively. Patients of the lattergroup more frequently complained of pain after injection (on day 4, p=0,08) compared with those of the former one (on day 7, p=0,03). Hyperemicfoci at injection sites developed only in case of using the same needle for 4 and 7 days (13,3 and 26,6% respectively). Conclusion. Multiple use of insulin pen needles by patients with DM should be avoided since it leads to hyperemia at injection sites, pain sensation,and risk of microbial contamination.

Keywords

• diabetes mellitus
• insulin pens
• needles
• microbial contamination
• pain