Needlestick and Sharps Injury-How does it happen

Needlestick and Sharps Injury happens when a person gets poked (stuck) by a needle or sharp tool (sharps) that may have someone else’s blood on it.

A needlestick injury can happen to a health care worker, or to anyone who is exposed to needles. The injury may expose you to blood that carries infections such as:

• Hepatitis B.
• Hepatitis C.
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

If you have a needle stick injury or think you may have been exposed to blood or body fluids:

• Wash the injured area right away with soap and water.
• Place a bandage or clean towel on the wound and apply gentle pressure to stop the bleeding. Do not squeeze or rub the area.
• Notify a work place supervisor or doctor. Follow any procedures in your work place.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Treatments may include:

• Blood tests to make sure that you have no infection.
• Tetanus shot.
• Hepatitis B shot.
• Medicines to stop or treat infection.
• Treatment for the wound.

Follow these instructions at home:

Wound care

• There are many ways to close and cover a wound. For example, a wound can be covered with sutures, skin glue, or adhesive strips. Follow instructions from your doctor about:
  • How to take care of your wound.
  • When and how you should change your bandage (dressing).
• Keep the bandage dry as told by your doctor.
• Do not take baths, swim, use a hot tub, or do anything that would put your wound underwater until your doctor approves.
• Check your wound every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • Redness, swelling, or pain.
  • Fluid or blood.
  • Pus or a bad smell.
  • Warmth.

General instructions

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
• If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your doctor. Do not stop using the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

Contact a doctor if:

• The poked area is red, swollen, or painful.
• You have a fever.
• You feel worried (anxious), mad, or sad (depressed).
• You have trouble sleeping.
• Your skin or the whites of your eyes look yellow (jaundice).
• You have belly pain or a feeling of fullness.
• You have tiredness (fatigue).
• You feel sickness in a lot of your body (malaise).
• You get infections often.

Summary

• A needlestick injury happens when a person gets poked (stuck) by a needle that may have someone else’s blood on it.
• It is treated by cleaning the injured area right away with soap and water. You may get tetanus and hepatitis B shots. You may also get medicines for infections.
• Take medicine and care for your wound as told by your doctor.