Improper sharp disposal practices among diabetes patients in home care settings: Need for concern?

In the recent years, outbreaks of blood-borne infections have been reported from assisted living facilities, which were traced back to improper blood glucose monitoring practices. Needle-stick injuries have been implicated in many such cases. This directly raises concerns over sharp disposal practic...

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Main Authors: Anindo Majumdar, Jayaprakash Sahoo, Gautam Roy, Sadishkumar Kamalanathan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2015-01-01
Series:Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ijem.in/article.asp?issn=2230-8210;year=2015;volume=19;issue=3;spage=420;epage=425;aulast=Majumdar
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author Anindo Majumdar
Jayaprakash Sahoo
Gautam Roy
Sadishkumar Kamalanathan
author_facet Anindo Majumdar
Jayaprakash Sahoo
Gautam Roy
Sadishkumar Kamalanathan
author_sort Anindo Majumdar
collection DOAJ
description In the recent years, outbreaks of blood-borne infections have been reported from assisted living facilities, which were traced back to improper blood glucose monitoring practices. Needle-stick injuries have been implicated in many such cases. This directly raises concerns over sharp disposal practices of diabetic patients self-managing their condition in home care settings. With India being home to a huge diabetic population, this issue, if neglected, can cause substantial damage to the health of the population and a marked economic loss. This article discusses the sharp disposal practices prevalent among diabetes patients, the importance of proper sharp disposal, barriers to safe disposal of sharps, and the options available for doing the same. For adopting an environmentally safe wholesome approach, disposal of plastics generated as a result of diabetes self-care at home is important as well. The article also looks at the possible long-term solutions to these issues that are sustainable in an Indian context.
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spelling doaj.art-c55bca0e05904c1b8a469ff37831949e2022-12-22T01:13:07ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism2230-82102230-95002015-01-0119342042510.4103/2230-8210.152792Improper sharp disposal practices among diabetes patients in home care settings: Need for concern?Anindo MajumdarJayaprakash SahooGautam RoySadishkumar KamalanathanIn the recent years, outbreaks of blood-borne infections have been reported from assisted living facilities, which were traced back to improper blood glucose monitoring practices. Needle-stick injuries have been implicated in many such cases. This directly raises concerns over sharp disposal practices of diabetic patients self-managing their condition in home care settings. With India being home to a huge diabetic population, this issue, if neglected, can cause substantial damage to the health of the population and a marked economic loss. This article discusses the sharp disposal practices prevalent among diabetes patients, the importance of proper sharp disposal, barriers to safe disposal of sharps, and the options available for doing the same. For adopting an environmentally safe wholesome approach, disposal of plastics generated as a result of diabetes self-care at home is important as well. The article also looks at the possible long-term solutions to these issues that are sustainable in an Indian context.http://www.ijem.in/article.asp?issn=2230-8210;year=2015;volume=19;issue=3;spage=420;epage=425;aulast=MajumdarDiabetesdisposalneedlesharpswaste
spellingShingle Anindo Majumdar
Jayaprakash Sahoo
Gautam Roy
Sadishkumar Kamalanathan
Improper sharp disposal practices among diabetes patients in home care settings: Need for concern?
Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Diabetes
disposal
needle
sharps
waste
title Improper sharp disposal practices among diabetes patients in home care settings: Need for concern?
title_full Improper sharp disposal practices among diabetes patients in home care settings: Need for concern?
title_fullStr Improper sharp disposal practices among diabetes patients in home care settings: Need for concern?
title_full_unstemmed Improper sharp disposal practices among diabetes patients in home care settings: Need for concern?
title_short Improper sharp disposal practices among diabetes patients in home care settings: Need for concern?
title_sort improper sharp disposal practices among diabetes patients in home care settings need for concern
topic Diabetes
disposal
needle
sharps
waste
url http://www.ijem.in/article.asp?issn=2230-8210;year=2015;volume=19;issue=3;spage=420;epage=425;aulast=Majumdar
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AT sadishkumarkamalanathan impropersharpdisposalpracticesamongdiabetespatientsinhomecaresettingsneedforconcern