If an individual sustained a needle injury, it is vital that you are prepared to handle one. Once an individual punctured or pierced his/her skin with a worn needle, you have to perform the following first aid measures:
- Encourage bleeding of the wound by holding it under running water.
- Cleanse the wound using running water and soap
- Avoid scrubbing the wound while it is being washed
- Do not suck on the wound
- Dry the wound and cover it using a dressing or waterproof plaster
Needle-stick injuries
A needle injury during medical techniques are oftentimes called as needle-stick or sharps injuries. The sharps might include other health supplies such as scalpels, syringes and lancets as well as glass from damaged equipment.
When an individual has utilized a needle, the viruses in their blood such as hepatitis C, hepatitis B or HIV might contaminate it. This includes needles that are used to inject illicit drugs. Remember that blood can also contaminate sharps.
Assessing the injury
The doctor will assess the risk of a needle injury to the health and ask about the injury such as how and when it happened or who used the needle. A blood sample of the individual is taken to be tested for hepatitis B, C or even HIV.
Even though infrequent, there is a minor risk for other infections from being transmitted through tainted blood including Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus. The doctor might even require test samples of the blood of the other individual if they give their consent.
Is treatment needed?
If the doctor believes that the individual is at low risk for infection, treatment might not be needed. In case there is a higher risk, the following are required:
- Antibiotics
- Treatment to prevent HIV
- Vaccination against hepatitis B
In case the individual is at high risk of infection with HIV, the doctor might consider treatment specifically post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Quick Note / Disclaimer
The material posted on this page on needle injuries is for learning and educational purposes only. To learn to properly provide wound care including needle injuries, register for a first aid and CPR course with Ottawa First Aid.