Standard Protocol for a Needle Stick
Robin Durand
Robin Durand is a paralegal and college instructor in South Carolina. She received an associate's degree in paralegal studies from a technical college in South Carolina, and has more than 13 years' experience as a paralegal. She has been a freelance writer for over one year and enjoys writing articles relating to legal matters and house and home information.
Recommended Protocol
If you are stuck by a needle or other sharp object or get blood or other potentially infectious materials in your eyes, nose, mouth or on broken skin, immediately flood the exposed area with water and clean any wound with soap and water or a skin disinfectant if available. Report the incident to your employer and seek immediate medical attention. Many employers have a procedural manual for steps to follow to guarantee that all risk-reducing steps are addressed.Notify the RVU Office of Clinical Affairs immediately.
Post-exposure Exam (can be done on site or after you return home)
During the first visit to a doctor following a needle stick, blood will be drawn to perform a baseline test, which checks for any virus or suspicious antibodies. Additional blood draws taken every 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 6 months after exposure check for activity of any viruses. Extended HIV follow-up (typically 12 months) is recommended for professionals infected with HCV after exposure to a source co-infected with both HIV and HCV. HIV testing should be performed on any exposed person who has an illness compatible with an acute retroviral syndrome, regardless of the interval since exposure.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
According to the CDC, PEP is most effective if you take it within 2 hours of possible HIV exposure and should be taken for 3 days. At that time you should consult your physician to see if you should take for a full 28 days. (Depends on risk level.)
Please refer to the attached tables from the CDC MMWR- September 5, 2005/Vol. 54/No.RR-9
You may be restricted of drug choice due to your location. The longer you wait to start PEP, the greater the risk of becoming HIV-positive. You may want to stop the rotation and make arrangements to come back to the US, especially if you are at High Risk for contracting infection.
The PEP for HBV is the Hepatitis B immune globulin and the HBV vaccine. You should already be vaccinated.
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Standard Protocol for Needle Stick
Revised 03/2017