SAFETY HUBER NEEDLE

Huber needles are used to administer chemotherapy, antibiotics, and total parenteral nutrition trough an implanted IV port. Theses needles may be in the port for many days at a time.

Standard Huber needles present a problem with accidental needlesticks.  The removal of standard huber needles require the stabilization of the port. The port is stabilized with at least two fingers of the non-dominant hand of the clinician while the needle is withdrawn from the septum.  Because of the proximity of the hand to the needle, this procedure puts the healthcare worker at high risk of accidental needlestick injury. Rebound injuries are common with a standard Huber needles due to the great deal of force required to overcome the resistance of the silicone septum.