Ouch! Autoinjector pen injuries more common than you’d think
By Eduardo A. Rodriguez
Allergies to insect bites and certain foods are common. Everyone has heard of Epi-Pens and how they can be used to treat the life-threatening complications of allergic reactions. However, Epi-Pens and other autoinjector pens can be difficult to use without any experience. They can even be dangerous to the person administering the injection, and autoinjector pen injuries can occur if they accidentally inject themselves instead.
A recent article published in SKIN: The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine states that reports of these Epi-pen injuries have increased over the past decade. The authors start with a surprising scenario: A physician who accidentally injects himself when trying to inject a patient with an Epi-pen. Both physician and patient were fine, but the incident led the authors to consider how this could have happened and how it could have been prevented?
The review goes on to discuss safety issues with autoinjector pens and commonly reported injuries of accidental self-injection, reviews the safety guidelines for use of a common auto-injector pen, and explores preventative strategies to decrease injuries. It suggests that users “take time to familiarize themselves with the variety of auto-injectors used in their respective practice by reading the manufacturer’s guidelines and by practicing with placebo trainers if available.”
The article closes with an optimistic message: “With a combination of proper training and design modifications, achieving a decrease in the rate of auto-injector injuries and improper handling appears possible.”
SKIN: The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine is a peer-reviewed online medical journal that is the official journal of The National Society for Cutaneous Medicine. The mission of SKIN is to provide an enhanced and accelerated route to disseminate new dermatologic knowledge for all aspects of cutaneous disease. For more details please visit jofskin.org or contact jofskin@gmail.com.
Eduardo A. Rodriguez works with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
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