Session Key Points

  • All healthcare staff should be vaccinated against Hepatitis B, as this is the most likely transmissible infection from a sharps injury and is mostly preventable
  • If a sharps injury does occur, the wound should immediately be washed with soap and water. Post-Exposure HIV prophylaxis should be given if the injury was 'high risk' or from an unknown patient. Viral testing should be done if consent is obtained from healthcare worker and patient but 6 months is required to confirm negative results
  • Prevention of as many needlestick and other sharps injuries is therefore vital. This may be done by ensuring a sharps container is within arm’s reach before using a sharp, and that needles are discarded immediately and not resheathed or handed over to someone else
  • Sharps boxes should be robust, single use, and marked as hazardous. They should be disposed of safely when ¾ full and replaced by spare sharps boxes immediately