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Needlestick injury - DRAFT

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Overview

Sharps injuries are a well-known risk in the health and social care sector. Sharps contaminated with an infected patient's blood can transmit more than 20 diseases, including hepatitis B, C and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Because of this transmission risk, sharps injuries can cause worry and stress to the many thousands who receive them.(1)

NHS advice

Patients presenting to GP practices or other primary care facilities should be managed as follows:

1. Following a sharps injury - patients or staff should immediately be given advice on first aid management (2):

gently squeeze the wound to encourage it to bleed (ideally while holding it under running water)
wash the wound using running water and plenty of soap
do not scrub or suck the wound
dry the wound and cover it with a waterproof plaster or dressing

What should I do if I injure myself with a used needle? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

2. Establish the risk of the injury - has the sharp been contaminated with another persons blood and is that person know to have any Blood Bourne Virus infections.

3. If the sharp has been contaminated with blood from a patient with known HIV or a person at risk of having HIV then refer the patient directly to the nearest Emergency Department for consideration of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP). PEP should be used only in emergency situations and must be started within 72 hours after a recent possible exposure to HIV.

4. If the affected sharp is from a source where infection risk is unknown, then arrange for blood to be drawn from both the source person (if possible and with their informed consent) and the person who has sustained the needlestick. Blood for Blood Bourne Viruses (BBV) - HIV, Hepatis B and C - should be taken.

Referral

Patients

Patients should be advised to get urgent medical advice from NHS 111 online, calling 111, or going to the nearest emergency department (2).

If the injury is sustained at work they should contact their employer's occupational health service.

NHS Staff

Follow advice above and call the Needlestick Hotline 0117 3423400.

Resources

(1) Heath and social care services - Sharps injuries (hse.gov.uk)

(2) What should I do if I injure myself with a used needle? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

(3) Blood-borne viruses: protection of health care workers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

(4) Needlestick hotline | Safety and Health Services | University of Bristol

Efforts are made to ensure the accuracy and agreement of these guidelines, including any content uploaded, referred to or linked to from the system. However, BNSSG ICB cannot guarantee this. This guidance does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer, in accordance with the mental capacity act, and informed by the summary of product characteristics of any drugs they are considering. Practitioners are required to perform their duties in accordance with the law and their regulators and nothing in this guidance should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties.

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