Use of Blunt-Tip Suture Needles When Indicated Reduces Needlesticks

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) strongly encourage healthcare professionals to use blunt-tip suture needles as an alternative to standard suture needles when suturing fascia and muscle to decrease the risk of needlestick injury, states a May 30, 2012, alert posted on FDA’s website. According to the alert, although blunt-tip suture needles currently cost around 70 cents more than standard suture needles, the benefits of reducing the risk of serious and potentially fatal bloodborne infections for healthcare personnel support their use when clinically appropriate.