What happens if you get poked by a used needle?
What happens if you get poked by a used needle?
Some people, such as health care workers are at increased risk of needlestick injury, which occurs when the skin is accidentally punctured by a used needle. Blood-borne diseases that could be transmitted by such an injury include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV).
What infections can you get from used needles?
Blood borne infections are commonly spread by people who inject drugs and share needles or syringes. Diseases that are spread this way include: HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
What should you immediately do if you get a needlestick?
If any of these occur, take the following steps:
- Wash needlesticks and cuts with soap and water.
- Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water.
- Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigants.
- Report the incident to your supervisor.
- Immediately seek medical treatment.
What counts as a needlestick injury?
Needlestick injuries are wounds caused by needles that accidentally puncture the skin. Needlestick injuries are a hazard for people who work with hypodermic syringes and other needle equipment. These injuries can occur at any time when people use, disassemble, or dispose of needles.
Can you get Covid from blood?
It is unlikely that SARS CoV-2 can be transmitted via exposure to blood. One similarity between bloodborne pathogens and SARS-CoV-2 is that they can both be transmitted via mucus membrane exposures to the eyes, nose, and/or mouth.
How common are needlestick injuries?
Needlesticks are a common occurrence in the health care profession. It is estimated that 600 000 to 800 000 needlestick injuries occur per year in the United States [1]. Of these, many, if not most, go unreported [2].
Does a needlestick always bleed?
Generally, needlestick injuries cause only minor visible trauma or bleeding; however, even in the absence of bleeding the risk of viral infection remains.
Can you get COVID from a needle stick?
Although there appears to be a theoretical risk of transmission of infection through blood, it is still extremely low due to low volume of blood in needle stick injuries compared to the well-known respiratory route.