Background: In spite of a high risk of infection, multiple usages of disposable insulin syringes among diabetic patients is quite common. The present study was designed to assess the outcome of multiple usages of disposable insulin syringes in insulin dependent patients referring to Shahid Motahari clinic in Shiraz .

Materials and methods: For this descriptive study, through a random sampling method, 117 patients were selected. Initial data were obtained by a questionnaire and the patients were asked to deliver their syringes following their last injection to be examined by microbiological tests. The injection site was also examined for the evidence of infection within a 24-hour period. In the next stage, 30 patients were randomly chosen among those who had used each syringe more than once and another reused syringe was received from them 1 week later. However, the second syringes were tested in microbiology lab 24 hours after the last injection.

Results: Totally, 82.1% of patients used their syringes more than once. No infection was detected at the site of injection, however, microbial contamination was found in four syringes and in 11 needles. 2 of these syringes were used just once. Syringe and needle contamination was found more commonly among those who did not use alcohol (for injection area disinfections) (p<0.02). Syringe and needle contamination was not significantly associated with sex, frequency of reuse, insulin type, hygiene, place and method of keeping syringes between two injections. The cultured pathogens were as follow: staphylococcus aureus in 6 , staphylococcus epidermidis in 2, non-entrococci in 3, and diphtheroid , bacillus subtilis, entrococci and anaerobic gram positive bacillus, each in one.

Conclusion: The risk of syringe and needle contamination is more when disinfecting methods and disinfectants are not used. Furthermore, multiple usage of the insulin syringes in this study, did not lead to injection site infection.