Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture: Section II: Safety in acupuncture: 1. Prevention of infection: 1.4 Sterilization and storage of needles and equipment

Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Acupuncture
(1999; 35 pages) [French] [Spanish]

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
	Basic training in acupuncture
	Safety in acupuncture
Section I: Basic training in acupuncture
	1. Purpose of the guidelines
	2. Use of acupuncture in national health systems
		2.1 Administrative and academic considerations
		2.2 Examinations and licensing
		2.3 Supervision, monitoring and evaluation
		2.4 Further education and career possibilities
	3. Levels of training
	4. Training programmes
	5. Training of acupuncture practitioners
		5.1 Acupuncture practitioners
		5.2 Entrance requirements
		5.3 Duration of training
		5.4 Objective
		5.5 Core syllabus in acupuncture
		5.6 Core syllabus in modern Western medicine
		5.7 Other related fields of health care
		5.8 Examination
	6. Full training in acupuncture for qualified physicians
	7. Limited training in acupuncture for qualified physicians
		7.1 Basic training
		7.2 Special courses
		7.3 Advanced training
	8. Limited training in acupuncture for primary health care personnel
	9. Selected acupuncture points for basic training
	10. Selected points for basic training in acupuncture
Section II: Safety in acupuncture
	1. Prevention of infection
		1.1 Clean working environment
		1.2 Clean hands
		1.3 Preparation of the needling sites
		1.4 Sterilization and storage of needles and equipment
		1.5 Aseptic technique
	2. Contraindications
		2.1 Pregnancy
		2.2 Medical emergencies and surgical conditions
		2.3 Malignant tumours
		2.4 Bleeding disorders
	3. Accidents and untoward reactions
		3.1 Needle quality
		3.2 Position of patient
		3.3 Fainting
		3.4 Convulsions
		3.5 Pain
		3.6 Stuck needle
		3.7 Broken needle
		3.8 Local infection
		3.9 Burning during moxibustion
	4. Electrical stimulation and laser therapy
	5. Injury to important organs
		5.1 Areas not to be punctured
		5.2 Precautions to be taken
	6. Patient records
Appendix
	1. Sterilization of acupuncture needles and equipment
	2. Methods of sterilization
	3. Disinfection
	4. Maintenance
Annex I: List of participants

1.4 Sterilization and storage of needles and equipment

Sterilization is required for all needles (filiform, plum-blossom, seven-star, subcutaneous, round-head subcutaneous), cups and other equipment used (storage trays, forceps, guide tubes for needles, cotton wool balls and sticks, etc.).

Disposable sterile acupuncture needles and guide tubes are strongly recommended in all instances. However, the use of disposable needles should not slacken the practitioner's vigilance in adopting aseptic techniques in other aspects of clinical practice. All disposable needles should be discarded immediately after use and placed in a special container.

Each sterile filiform needle should be used for puncturing once, and once only. Plum-blossom or seven-star needles may be used repeatedly on one and the same patient, but must be sterilized before being used for another patient, or else disposable plum-blossom heads should be used.

Sterilization procedures should conform to those described in the Appendix. The therapist is responsible for ensuring that these standards are maintained.

Immediately after use, reusable needles and other contaminated equipment should be immersed in an effective chemical disinfectant, then soaked in water, with or without detergent and, after careful cleaning, thoroughly rinsed in water before being packaged for resterilization.

The sterilized package should be stored in a safe and clean area, well ventilated and free from excessive humidity, to preclude any possibility of condensation and mould growth. The maximum safe storage time varies with the type of packaging. Needles should be placed in a test tube which should then be plugged with cotton wool, and clearly labelled with an expiry date not more than seven days after the date of sterilization. Improper storage conditions may, however, cause equipment to lose sterility long before the expiry date. The integrity of the package should be inspected before use. Sterile needles stored in needle trays should be resterilized at the end of the day because the trays may become contaminated during use in treatment.