[Innocuousness of the limited reuse of injection materials by insulin-dependent diabetics].

: A survey was conducted in 120 insulin-dependent diabetics to determine their routine daily procedure for insulin injection and the possible reuse of the material employed. Aseptic precautions were usually sufficient, half of the diabetic patients (51.6%) conforming with the overall rules for hygiene generally recommended. Spontaneous reuse of injection material was rare (10/120), and local incidents as a result of reuse infrequent: pain from the 3rd injection in 2 patients and an abdominal abscess in a third case due to total lack of asepsis rules. Insulin injections in 37 insulin-dependent diabetics admitted to hospital care were administered throughout their stay by means of plastic syringes and needles used 3 times consecutively. The mean number of needles-syringes used per diabetic was 7.3, representing a total of 813 injections. Infectious sequelae were not observed and minor local incidents (pain, pruritus) were rare and unrelated to the reuse of equipment. Limited reuse, under satisfactory conditions of asepsis, of material termed for "once only use" appears to be free from risk particularly with respect to infection. Generalization of this practice will provide substantial economy in the treatment of diabetes.