If You Suffer a Needlestick...

1. Allow the wound to bleed.  You can do this by running it under water.
2. Wash the area with soap and water.  Do not scrub or suck on the wound.
3. Cover the wound with a clean dressing.
4. Report the incident to your supervisor.  You will be required to fill out an incident report that asks how and when the injury happened, and who had used the needle.
5. Samples of your blood may tested for infections such as hepatitis B and C, or HIV.  Your employer may also arrange to test samples of the other person’s blood.
6. If you are at low risk for infection, you may not need any treatment.
7. If there is a higher risk of infection, you may need antibiotics and/or vaccination against hepatitis B.  If there is a risk of infection with HIV, you may have to undergo treatment called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Then, be sure to get vaccinated to protect against future exposure:

• Hepatitis B (HBV).  HBV is found in blood and other body fluids.  And sadly, is the most serious liver infection in the world! 
• Influenza.  You should get your flu shot once a year to prevent the illness.  Flu germs can live on contaminated items for up to 8 hours.
• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella).  It can happen!  Recently, 122 healthcare workers in France caught measles on the job. 
• Varicella (Chickenpox).  If you have never had the disease, you should be vaccinated!
• Tetanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis (TDaP).  Protect yourself with a booster every 10 years.