[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 6-Nov-2003
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Contact: Emma Dickinson
edickinson@bmj.com
44-207-383-6529
BMJ-British Medical Journal

1 in 3 injections given in developing countries is unsafe

Use of injections in healthcare settings worldwide, 2000: literature review and regional estimates BMJ Volume 327, pp 1075-8

Overuse of injections and unsafe practices are still common in developing and transitional countries, find researchers in this week's BMJ.

They reviewed published studies and unpublished reports to describe the frequency and safety of injection practices in 14 regions of the world.

They found that up to 75% of injections were given with reused, unsterilised equipment. Reuse was highest in the South East Asia region, the Middle East, and the Western Pacific region.

An urgent need exists to reduce the overuse of injections and promote injection safety to prevent unnecessary infections, conclude the authors.

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