ABOUT THE
ONE & ONLY CAMPAIGN
The Impact of Unsafe Injection Practices in U.S. Healthcare Settings
More than 150,000 patients have been impacted by unsafe injection practices since 2001. Breakdowns in
proper infection control often involve providers reusing needles, syringes or single-dose medication vials,
all of which are meant for one patient and one procedure. These breaches can cause irreparable damage
exposing patients to bloodborne illnesses such as hepatitis and HIV, and to life-threatening bacterial
infections. Although safe injection practices represent very basic infection control measures, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) routinely identifies and investigates outbreaks associated with
deficient practices.
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From 2001 through 2011, there were at least 18 outbreaks of viral hepatitis associated with unsafe
injection practices in outpatient settings such as physician offices or ambulatory surgical centers (ASC).
This is believed to be the tip of the iceberg and does not include outbreaks of bacterial illness, such as
MRSA infections.
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CDC released a table of recent outbreaks and patient notification events that occurred in a variety of
settings, including primary care clinics, pediatric offices, ambulatory surgical centers, pain clinics, imaging
facilities, oncology clinics, and even health fairs: www.OneAndOnlyCampaign.org/outbreaks-table
Our Work: Promoting Injection Safety as Part of “Infection Control 101”
Through targeted education and awareness efforts, the One & Only Campaign empowers patients and
healthcare providers to insist on nothing less than safe injections – every time, for every patient. Since
2009, the campaign has developed toolkits and materials for providers and patients, including a clinician
toolkit, a checklist, posters, a video, and a continuing education webinar. The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) and the Safe Injection Practices Coalition (SIPC) have also promoted awareness of safe
injection practices at a wide variety of national and state meetings, conferences, and training activities.
About the Campaign
The One & Only Campaign aims to eradicate outbreaks from unsafe medical injections by raising awareness
among patients and healthcare providers about proper practices. The campaign is a public health effort
led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and produced by the Safe Injection Practices
Coalition (SIPC), a collaboration of several medical societies, state health departments, patient advocates, and
private medical companies.
For injection safety guidelines, checklists, frequently asked questions, and other resources visit OneAndOnlyCampaign.org.
For the latest news and updates follow us on Twitter @injectionsafety and Facebook/OneandOnlyCampaign.
Our Partners
Campaign outreach and activities are driven by SIPC and its State Health Department partners in Nevada,
New Jersey, New York, and North Carolina. Members of SIPC include:
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Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care
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Ambulatory Surgery Center Association
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American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
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American Society for Healthcare Risk Management
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Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.
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BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company)
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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CDC Foundation
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Covidien
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HONOReform Foundation
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Hospira
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Institute for Safe Medication Practices
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MEDRAD
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National Association of County & City Health Officials
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Nebraska Medical Association
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Nevada State Medical Association
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Premier healthcare alliance
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration-Safe Use Initiative (advisory role)
For injection safety guidelines, checklists, frequently asked questions, and other resources
visit OneAndOnlyCampaign.org. For the latest news and updates follow us on
Twitter @injectionsafety and Facebook/OneandOnlyCampaign.