Needle changing and occurrence of local adverse complications after HBV vaccination

Abstract

Introduction: Two usual techniques are used by health professionals for administrating intramuscular (IM) injections. In the first method, the injectable vaccine is drawn into syringe, using one needle, which is then changed with a new one before administration. The other technique is using one needle for both drawing and injecting IM drugs. Using two-needle technique suggests that this method reduces pain, swelling and redness of injection site after immunizing with hepatitis B vaccine (HBV).

Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial, which was conducted on 39 students of nursing faculty without previous history of immunization with HBV. The subjects were randomly divided in two groups and scheduled to be vaccinated for first and second dose of HBV. The data were colleted using a questionnaire of pain, swelling and redness followed up for four days post-vaccination. Statistical methods for analyzing the data were Wilcoxon signed rank test and McNamara test.

Results: Rates of redness and swelling with the use of two-needle technique was less than the one-needle technique (P=0.04 and P=0.03, respectively). Prevalence of pain among those with one-needle injection was 41% and those with two-needle technique was 30.7%. It was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Since use of two-needle technique significantly reduced local reactions of routine immunization in adults, immunization centers should review their policies to change needle before administration of vaccines.