Guidance
Update information
February 2017: We updated recommendations on safe use and disposal of sharps to link to relevant legislation and added a safety alert on chlorhexidine to recommendations on vascular access devices.
August 2013: A clarification has been made to recommendation 1.1.4.2 on the disposal of used standard needles.
March 2012: This guidance updates and replaces NICE clinical guideline 2 (published June 2003).
Recommendations are marked as [2003], [2003, amended 2012], [2012] or [new 2012]:
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[2003] indicates that the evidence has not been updated and reviewed since 2003
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[2003, amended 2012] indicates that the evidence has not been updated and reviewed since 2003, but a small amendment has been made to the recommendation. These amendments include:
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recommendation 1.1.4.1: 'sharps must not be passed' replaced by 'sharps should not be passed directly from hand to hand, and handling should be kept to a minimum' because this is not covered by legislation.
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recommendation 1.2.5.4: 'patients managing their own catheters, and their carers, must be educated about the need for hand decontamination…' is replaced by 'carers and patients managing their own catheters must wash their hands…' to address a patient safety issue.
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'Central venous catheter' is replaced in the key priorities for implementation and recommendations sections by 'vascular access device' in line with the scope of the guideline update.
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[2012] indicates that the evidence has been reviewed but no changes have been made to the recommendation
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[new 2012] indicates that the evidence has been reviewed and the recommendation has been updated or added.
Minor changes since publication
July 2023: In recommendation 1.1.4.4, we removed the timeframe for disposing of sharps containers.
ISBN: 978-1-4731-2367-0