Needlestick injuries

A needlestick or sharps injury is when your skin is penetrated by a needle or other sharp object (such as a syringe, scalpel or broken glass) that has been in contact with blood, tissue or other body fluids.

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Injuries from discarded needles in the community are not common and infections are rare. However, if you pierce or puncture your skin with a used needle, follow this first aid advice immediately:

• Wash the wound with soap and water.
• If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand rub or solution.
• Go straight to your doctor or the nearest hospital emergency department.

Your doctor will assess the risks to your health and ask about your injury, such as how and when it happened and who had used the needle. They will assess what testing you require and whether any treatment to prevent infection is needed.

They will also advise whether you need to follow any extra precautions such as practicing safe sex and avoiding blood donation. Check with your healthcare provider how long these extra precautions are needed. 

Needlestick injuries among healthcare workers

Needlestick injuries are most likely to happen among healthcare workers who are accidentally exposed to infected blood (occupational exposure). If you are at work you should follow your local occupational health guideline for needlestick injuries. 

The concern with a needlestick injury is the risk that any viruses in blood on the needle might be passed on, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV.

The risk of transmission following a needlestick injury depends on several factors:

• whether the person who previously used the object had an infection
• the level of virus in their blood
• the amount of blood involved
• the type of needle or syringe
• the time that has passed since it was used
• the nature of the injury.

You must get rid of your used needles and syringes safely.

• Keep them out of reach of children and pets, and places where they could hurt others.
• You can do this by buying a sharps container from your pharmacy.
• This is a special container made of hard plastic that has a tight-fitting lid so used needles and syringes can be stored securely.
• Don't flush used needles and syringes down the toilet or put them in household or public rubbish or recycle bins.
• Once your sharps container is full, take it to your pharmacy for safe disposal.
• Talk to your pharmacist about how you can get rid of your needles and syringes safely.
  
  

Image credit: Healthify He Puna Waiora