Washington – OSHA, NIOSH, and the Food and Drug Administration recently issued a joint safety communication (.pdf file) urging health care professionals to help prevent needlestick injuries by using blunt-tip suture needles.

Studies show using blunt-tip suture needles instead of standard suture needles reduces the risk of needlestick injuries by 69 percent, according to the agencies. The document states that blunt-tip suture needles cost roughly 70 cents more per needle, but a 2007 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests the difference is made up by the cost savings of preventing needlestick injuries.