post exposure prophylaxis

A hospitalized patient with AIDS became agitated and tried to eliminate the intravenous (IV) catheters in his arm. Through the struggle, an IV infusion line was pulled. A nurse at the scene recovered the connector needle at the conclusion of the IV line and was trying to reinsert it when the patient kicked her arm, pushing the needle into her hand. The nurse who sustained the needle stick injury tested negative for HIV that day, but she tested HIV positive many months later. This is simply not the sole case. Everyday healthcare workers are confronted with dangerous and deadly blood-borne pathogens and are at risk of occupational acquisitions of blood-borne illnesses. Occupational experience of blood-borne pathogens among healthcare workers include percutaneous exposure i.e. experience of needles and other sharp objects, and mucocutaneous exposure i.e. experience of intact or nonintact skin, the experience of mucous membranes. In the healthcare settings, percutaneous injuries are the most frequent form of occupational exposures and most likely to end up in infection. Needle stick injuries account for upto 80 per cent of accidental experience of blood-borne pathogens. It is one of the greatest risks faced by the leading line healthcare workers in the light of HIV/ AIDS pandemic and Hepatitis B and C. Yet, these exposures have often been considered as part of the job and neglected.

Maybe you are among the hiv pep singapore of health care workers who annually be given a needlestick contaminated with HIV. In accordance with a recent report, multiple million needlestick injuries to health care workers occur every year. Anecdotal information considers that exposure figure is under reported. The use of intravenous cannulae is generally regarded as representing the best threat of transmission of blood-borne disease to health care workers. Hypodermic needles are commonly found in medical, veterinary and laboratory work and needlestick injuries really are a known risk for people who work in these areas. Carelessly or maliciously discarded needles can present a chance to individuals who clean or service such areas. Although an unusual event, hypodermic needles may also be present in areas frequented by the overall public. Hypodermic needles are hollow needles designed to penetrate the human body and either introduce or remove liquids. Thus, along with causing a puncture wound, needlestick injuries can introduce into the human body harmful materials or micro organisms from skin, from contaminants on the outside of the needle and from the needle bore (and syringe if attached).The threat of suffering further injury or disease from a needlestick injury depends as to the use the needle was put before the injury: clean and sterile needles present a low risk; if needles have now been used to transfer chemicals or microorganisms then the danger will depend upon the properties of the chemical or characteristics of the microorganism; if needles are contaminated with human blood and other body fluids they can be a supply of blood borne viruses (BBV); needles contaminated with animal body fluids can be quite a supply of zoonoses and needles contaminated with soil can be a supply of tetanus. Needlestick injuries can also cause mental trauma since the injured person may have to cope with worries they've been infected.

The use of safety devices, such as for example guarded needles, resheathable needles, bluntable vacuum systems, and blunt suture needles, could reduce the danger of injury. The effectiveness of each varies considerably; however, the utilization of blunted suture needles showed a substantial decrease in the number of glove punctures compared with cutting needles. Staples and glue may also be safer ways of wound closure because there is no experience of suture needles and should be encouraged when appropriate. Relatively new intravenous systems are available such as for example safety cannulae and needleless IV systems, and these may significantly reduce the danger of needlestick injuries.

What are the Fact Sheet on Needle Stick Injury?

-Health care workers (HCWs) suffer between 600,000 and one million injuries from conventional needles and sharps annually. These exposures can lead to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that creates AIDS.

-At least 1,000 HCWs are estimated to contract serious infections annually from needlestick and sharps injuries.

-Registered nurses working at the bedside sustain an overwhelming majority of the exposures.

-Needlestick injuries are preventable. Over 80% of needlestick injuries could possibly be prevented with the utilization of safer needle devices.

-In 1992, the Food and Drug Administration issued an alert to all health care facilities to utilize needleless IV systems wherever possible. This alert is only a recommendation, not just a mandate. Therefore, health care facilities are under no legal obligation to comply.

-The first safe needle designs were patented in the 1970s and the FDA has approved over 250 devices for marketing as safety devices.

-More than 20 other infections could be transmitted through needlesticks, including: tuberculosis, syphilis, malaria and herpes.

What's your role when someone presents to your practice following a needlestick injury or any other hazardous experience of blood and other body substance?

-Your initial efforts must be fond of reducing the danger of the exposed patient contracting an infectious illness. Immediate first-aid is required if the big event is recent:

-Contaminated needlestick, sharps injury, bite or scratch - encourage bleeding, wash with soap and running water.

-Blood or body fluid in eyes or mouth - irrigate with copious quantities of cold water