Aseptic No Touch Technique may be used in conjunction with sterile gloves as an alternative to full surgical asepsis for body piercing procedures. I demonstrated variations on this with colleagues during the Versatility in Piercing Techniques series of workshops for the 2014 APP conference. The following is from ANTT.org: What is Aseptic Non Touch Technique ANTT? ANTT is defined … Read more
Nick completed his Masters degree at the Ohio State University in Somatic and Cultural Studies in 2002. His final project, “Somatic Piercing: The Art and Ritual of Body Piercing” portrays his experiences in body rituals as well as illuminates other piercers’ views on the matter.
You are a pierced woman, he said, looking into my eyes and smiling.
I lifted my head so that I could take a peek: Brian Skellie, my piercer, had successfully stabbed me with a needle so I could wear a silver ring with a hematite stone on my navel.
SSI Prevention: Evidence-Based Practices Replace Lingering “Sacred Cows’ in the OR
This report explores the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs) within the context of evidence-based practices replacing “sacred cows” in the operating room. It focuses on the critical practice of preoperative hair removal.
When Thomas Paine noted in 1776 that, “A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right,” he could not have imagined that he was describing a current tug-of-war that still exists in some operating rooms today.
I strongly suggest that my fellow piercers discontinue the use of any caps applied manually after piercing, especially two handed capping methods, which appear most likely to result in sharps injury.
OSHA considers recapping of needles unacceptable risk unless there are no alternatives. OSHA allows one handed capping, such as spearing the needle tip into a stopper on your work tray, or using a mechanical device such as a tweezer or clamp to apply the cap providing a safe distance from the sharp end. Even using a receiving tube can pose risks if the tube a small diameter or not sufficiently puncture resistant.
When piercing without a clamp, longer needles allow the tube to be held securely far away from the tip once it has passed through the body. I use 3 inch needles for all body piercings so that the sharp end can be cleared far enough from the pierced area and the tube can be secured close to the blunt base without the need to manipulate the sharp end.
The stylet approach is stable, and based on existing self-blunting sharps technology. Provided that the wire is the appropriate size, the sharp is secured and there is not a cutting edge to catch or stick. It will only move back in the needle with a similar level of force that would puncture through a cork or plastic tube. A telescoping metal tube with a reduction to catch the needle could be more secure, and I’m working on a demonstration of that as well.
This is a prototypical demonstration of the concept and a version of it can be made to fit into needles for our industry with a number of locking and blunting variations of the same strong passivated 304 steel as the needles.
Contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps shall not be bent, recapped, or removed except as noted in paragraphs (d)(2)(vii)(A) and (d)(2)(vii)(B) below. Shearing or breaking of contaminated needles is prohibited.
Contaminated needles and other contaminated sharps shall not be bent, recapped or removed unless the employer can demonstrate that no alternative is feasible or that such action is required by a specific medical or dental procedure.
Immediately or as soon as possible after use, contaminated reusable sharps shall be placed in appropriate containers until properly reprocessed. These containers shall be:
Demonstrated knowledge of and aptitude for appropriate aseptic techniques, and practices, and legal issues involved is required prior to handling sharp instruments.
Watch the sharp end
Maintain awareness and control of sharp implements at all times
Don’t point sharp things at your self, especially fingers
Aim away from client and piercer
Example: Eyebrow begins by aiming away from eye towards hairline and away from the scalp and forehead.
Example: Navel begins by aiming out from the top center of the navel opening, out and away from the stomach.
Example: Tongue begins underneath the medial sulcus center and out away from upper lip and nose.
Example: Male urethral piercing begins inside urethra and aim outward between the glans penis perineal seam.
Use nonwoven gauze or SMS to support tissue upon exit
To decelerate leaving the exit wound and avoid fingers
To reduce tissue tearing and aiming sharp accidents
Select sharp device of appropriate length
Three inch sharp instruments (currently lancet pointed cannulae) allow for superior control and aim.
Use the extra length to keep fingertips away from sharp end.
Use appropriate amount of pressure for gentle penetration and exit
To reduce pressure is to reduce risk, error, and equipment failure
Slow down to ensure correct angle of exit
Engineered safety controls
No available devices exist specifically engineered to effectively reduce sharp injury risk both safe and effective to satisfy the requirements of the job.
Possible Ideas to assess
Stylet wire
At least one half inch longer than the needle tube
Use as pin coupling to aid insertion of internally threaded jewelry
Friction fit/notch/tab for wire/tube to lock in place
Test
Make 18g wire 3.5” for 14 gauge cannulae
Get IS Needles to make prototypes for other sizes 18 gauge to 4 gauge
Video and photograph to document
Assess at 10 procedures
Using smaller tubing or wire stock cut to size for the stylets.
The rod is slightly curved in the middle, to provide enough friction to prevent it from sliding back once advanced.
For a REALLY tight fit you can bend the wire twice in opposite directions and it will basically LOCK the wire into the needle and not allow it to twist or pull out at all.
The ends are rounded with a cup burr and polished to avoid injury.
The tail end can even be tapered or threaded to ensure a transfer with internally threaded jewelry.
What fits?
26/28g fits NeoMetal 18g threadless and most other 18g internally threaded posts
20g fits NeoMetal 16g threadless and some other 16g and larger internally threaded posts
18g fits 14 and 12g internally threaded posts
Telescoping tubing better suited for larger bore needles
Transfer pin (TP) connector size and jewelry ga:
26ga TP ? 19ga/18ga jewelry
22ga TP ? 16ga jewelry
20ga TP ? 14ga/12ga jewelry
19ga NB ? 14ga/12ga jewelry
Demonstration:
Stylet wire in place, prepared for a piercing.
Once pierced through, the wire is inserted into the jewelry then advanced flush with the butt of needle, blunting the sharp and maintaining a connection for the jewelry transfer.
Now blunted, the jewelry insertion is safer, and the connection is sturdy without need for a taper.
Blunted needle can be disposed of safely in a sharps container immediately, without need to return it to the work surface.
CONFERENCE IS ALMOST UPON US! THE CONFERENCE ADVANCED (ONLINE) REGISTRATION WILL SHUT DOWN AT MIDNIGHT ON MAY 17TH, PST ANY CHANGES TO YOUR REGISTRATION SHOULD BE MADE BEFORE THEN (OR WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE ARE ONSITE IN LAS VEGAS) BANQUET DINNER SPONSORED BY INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH BODY JEWELRY; ANATOMETAL, INC.; LEROI, INC.; AND KAOS SOFTWEAR THURSDAY JUNE … Read more
“To wipe the slate clean is to forget all past problems or mistakes and start something again. That is what wiping a surface is all about – to get rid of the past and start anew.” S.M.Kovach