| Using lidocaine from multidose vials to anesthetize wounds is standard practice in many emergency departments. Multidose lidocaine vials (MDLVs), as opposed to single dose ampules, provide hospitals with cost savings of up to 85%. Using multidose pharmaceuticals does, however, pose some risk. Over the last ten years there have been several documented cases of vial contamination and subsequent patient infection. This study evaluated the safety of using MDLVs in a rural emergency department located in northwest Montana.; Outer stoppers and internal lidocaine contents from 30 MDLVs were cultured and left to incubate for 72 hours. The residual lidocaine was also tested for the presence of blood. Ten of the stopper cultures grew bacteria and two vials contained lidocaine that tested positive for contamination with blood. These findings provide evidence that using MDLVs for local anesthesia in the emergency department carries some patient risk. |
