What is the required protocol for dealing with a sharps injury?

If you suffer an injury from a sharp which may be contaminated: Encourage the wound to gently bleed, ideally holding it under running water. Wash the wound using running water and plenty of soap. Don't scrub the wound whilst you are washing it.

Similarly, what is the protocol for needle stick injury?

If you sustain a needlestick injury, take the following actions immediately: • Wash the wound with soap and water. Alert your supervisor and initiate the injury reporting system used in your workplace. Identify the source patient, who should be tested for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C infections.

Additionally, do sharps injuries need to be reported to the HSE? reported. If the sharp is not contaminated with a BBV, or the source of the sharps injury cannot be traced, it is not reportable, unless the injury itself causes an over- seven-day injury. If the employee develops a disease attributable to the injury, then it must be reported.

Also to know, what is the first thing you must do in the case of an inoculation incident?

If you pierce or puncture your skin with a used needle, follow this first aid advice immediately: encourage the wound to bleed, ideally by holding it under running water. wash the wound using running water and plenty of soap. do not scrub the wound while you're washing it.

What steps should be taken in the event of an accidental needlestick?

If you experienced a sharps injury during your work, immediately follow these steps:

Wash wound with soap and water.
Flush out mouth, nose, or skin with water.
Irrigate eyes with water, saline, or sterile irrigants.
Report the incident to your supervisor.

32 Related Question Answers Found

What is the most common cause of needlestick injury?

Hypodermic and butterfly needles cause the most number of needlestick injuries. Hypodermic needles are hollow and are used with a syringe to inject substances into the body.

What happens if you get pricked by a used needle?

Needle stick injuries can also happen at home or in the community if needles are not discarded properly. Used needles may have blood or body fluids that carry HIV, the hepatitis B virus (HBV), or the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus can spread to a person who gets pricked by a needle used on an infected person.

What should be done first after a needlestick or sharps injury?

If you experienced a needlestick or sharps injury or were exposed to the blood or other body fluid of a patient during the course of your work, immediately follow these steps: Wash needlesticks and cuts with soap and water. Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water.

What are the chances of getting a disease from a needlestick?

Your chances of catching a disease from a single needle stick are usually very low. About 1 out of 300 health care workers accidentally stuck with a needle from someone with HIV get infected. But for hepatitis B, the odds can be as high as nearly 1 in 3 if the worker hasn't been vaccinated for it.

What is needle stick injury?

Needlestick injuries are wounds caused by needles that accidentally puncture the skin. Needlestick injuries are a hazard for people who work with hypodermic syringes and other needle equipment. These injuries can occur at any time when people use, disassemble, or dispose of needles.

What diseases can be transmitted through needle stick injury?

Summary

Blood-borne diseases that could be transmitted by a needlestick injury include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV).
Thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water, and go to your doctor or nearest emergency department as soon as possible.

What percentage of sharps injuries occur after use and before disposal?

Speaker Notes: Injuries with needles and other sharp devices can happen at any time during use. NaSH data show that the majority of injuries occur during or immediately after use; 15% occur during or after disposal.

What 4 things should you do following a sharps injury?

If you suffer an injury from a sharp which may be contaminated:

Encourage the wound to gently bleed, ideally holding it under running water.
Wash the wound using running water and plenty of soap.
Don't scrub the wound whilst you are washing it.
Don't suck the wound.

What should you remember when handling sharps?

Remember the following sharps safety rules:

Do not recap syringe needles or shear, clip, or bend needles.
Do not overfill sharps containers – Consider disposal when ¾ full.
Do not remove the sharps container top or remove the sharps from the container.
Do not put your hand into a sharps container that is already in use.

What should you do after a needle stick injury?

Treating needlestick injuries

Wash the area gently with soap and running tap water as soon as possible.
Apply an antiseptic and a clean dressing.
Obtain prompt medical advice from your local doctor or hospital emergency department, preferably within 24 hours.
Dispose of the needle safely.

What is inoculation injury?

An inoculation injury involves a having a percutaneous exposure or a mucocutaneous exposure to blood or bodily fluids. A percutaneous exposure is where a needle/sharp object that has already been used on a patient, a human scratch or bite has broken the skin.

Who would you report an inoculation injury to?

Inoculation (Sharps) Injury:

A nail brush should not be used. Cover the wound with a waterproof dressing. Report incident to Manager/ Supervisor. Attend the accident and emergency department of the nearest hospital; Mater/Beaumont.

Do Gloves protect from needle stick injury?

Love the Glove: Glove Use in Hospitals Appears to Cut Risk of Needlestick Injury. Wearing gloves reduces the risk of injury by needles and sharp medical devices, or sharps injuries, by about 66 percent, according to a new study by Canadian and U.S. researchers.

How do I report a sharps injury?

After a NSI / sharps injury or contamination incident: allow the puncture site to bleed; wash the wound / exposed area with soap and water; in the case of a splash to the eyes, irrigate eyes with sterile water (before and after contact lens removal); report the incident to the Occupational Health Department (OH) on

How many elements are in the standard infection control precautions?

There are 10 elements to the standard infection control precautions (SICPs) providing international guidance on infection prevention and control.

How can you reduce the risk of sharps injury?

Steps for remaining 'sharps safe' are summarised below.

Avoid leaving sharps lying around;
Avoid re-sheathing any used needles/razors;
Do not bend/break needles before discarding them;
Place contaminated sharps/razors in disposal containers approved to BS 7320:1990, immediately after use;

What are the hazards for the safe disposal of sharps?

There are several risks associated with sharps injuries, and an accidental puncture could have serious mental and physical repercussions. The risks associated with a sharps injury include: Exposure to blood-borne viruses (BBV's) and other pathogens. This includes HIV, hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV).