Work conducted by members of our
Drug and Alcohol HIT has led to ‘low dead space’ syringes being phased into Bristol’s needle and syringe programme.
A low dead space syringe has less space between the needle and the plunger when it’s fully pushed in, compared to traditional injecting equipment. It also has a detachable needle. The ‘dead’ space in a syringe holds blood after it’s been used. Previous research has found that low dead space syringes could reduce the chance of spreading infections, if they’re re-used or shared.
Phasing in low dead space syringes is forecast to result in a £4.1 million cost saving over the next 50 years through reduction in hepatitis C transmission and treatment. The initiative is also expected to result in quality-adjusted life year gains of 1,000 years over the same time period.
Find out more about the low dead space project.