Overview
Why a Sharps Injury Matters
A needlestick injury is a percutaneous exposure in which a needle or other sharp breaks the skin and may introduce infected blood directly into tissue.
A needlestick injury is a percutaneous exposure in which a needle or other sharp breaks the skin and may introduce infected blood directly into tissue. Hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and HIV are the bloodborne pathogens of greatest concern. A tiny puncture can still be a significant exposure; the size of the wound does not reliably show how much blood entered the body. Risk changes with the device and the circumstances. A hollow-bore needle is more concerning than a solid sharp because its lumen can retain blood. A deep injury, visible blood on the device, a source patient with a high viral burden, and an unprotected worker increase concern. Documented hepatitis B immunity changes the post-exposure plan, but it does not make the injury irrelevant. The safest exposure is the one prevented before the needle is used. Safety-engineered medical sharps, immediate disposal, and a work area designed for one-way movement of used sharps reduce the chance that blood reaches the worker at all.