Efficacy of safety catheter devices in the prevention of occupational needlestick injuries: applied research in the Liguria Region (Italy).

Healthcare workers who use or may be exposed to needles are at risk of needlestick injuries, which can lead to serious infections by bloodborne pathogens. These injuries can be avoided by eliminating the unnecessary use of needles and using safety devices. The present study was aimed at evaluating the impact of a safety-engineered device, with passive fully automatic needlestick protection, on the rate of needlestick injuries among healthcare workers.

Iloprost therapy acutely decreases oxidative stress in patients affected by systemic sclerosis.

Background: Oxidative stress has been considered a leading factor in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Consistently with this hypothesis the determination of urinary isoprostanes, a reliable method for evaluation of oxidative stress, has recently showed increased levels of isoprostanes in SSc patients. Data about the effect on oxidative stress of accepted therapies for SSc such as iloprost therapy are lacking.