If a needlestick injury occurs, the risks of transmitting a disease from infected body fluids on a needle depends on the disease:

• Most common:
  • Hepatitis B 1 chance in 3 of infection
  • Hepatitis C 1 chance in 30 of infection
  • HIV 1 chance in 300 of infection
• Rarely others:
  • Viral haemorrhagic fever, e.g. Ebola
  • Syphilis
  • Malaria

Needlestick injuries account for many new cases per year worldwide (Table 1).

Healthcare workers are at greater risk of infection from patients than vice versa.