Needlestick Injury: What It Is and What to Do
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[Glossary · Injecting]

Needlestick injury

Also called needle stick, needle-stick injury, sharps injury · Reviewed

Definition: A needlestick injury is an accidental puncture of the skin by a needle, most often a used one. The main worry is a needle used on someone else, which can pass on blood-borne infections. CDC names hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV as three of the most common. Prompt washing and medical care matter.

What CDC says to do

CDC guidance for healthcare workers says to wash needlestick punctures and cuts with soap and water, flush splashes to the nose, mouth or skin with water, and seek medical care right away to judge the risk from the exposure.

For HIV, CDC says post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should start as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours and no later than 72 hours after exposure. A needle stick from someone who has or might have HIV is one of the exposures it lists. That time limit is why it is worth acting the same day rather than waiting.

How to avoid one

  • Do not recap other people's needles. FDA says not to remove, bend, break or recap needles used by another person.
  • Use the container right away. FDA says putting sharps straight into a sharps container lowers the risk, and that overfilling a container raises it.
  • If you must recap, use one hand. FDA describes laying the cap on a flat surface and sliding the needle in with one hand.
  • Follow the device steps. The Ozempic instructions say not to put needle caps back on, to avoid needle sticks. The Wegovy instructions warn that touching or pushing the needle cover can cause a needle stick.

Sharing is a related risk

Pen labels such as Ozempic and Lantus say a pen must never be shared, even with a new needle, because of the same blood-borne infection risk.

Read more on Dose Track: Tracking vials and supplies

General education drawn from labels and published studies, not personal medical advice. Your prescriber, pharmacist and the label that came with your product are the final word.
Sharps disposalSharps disposal means getting rid of used needles, syringes, pen needles and auto-injectors safely. FDA… Pen needleA pen needle is a small, single-use needle that screws or clicks onto the tip of an injection pen. It has… Auto-injector (single-dose pen)An auto-injector is a single-use device with a hidden needle that gives one fixed dose. You press it… Insulin pen (injection pen)An insulin pen is a prefilled device that holds several doses of a liquid medicine. You attach a new pen…

Frequently asked questions

What should I do right after a needlestick?+
CDC says to wash the puncture with soap and water and seek medical care right away to judge the risk from the exposure.
How soon does HIV PEP need to start?+
CDC says as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours and no later than 72 hours after the exposure.
Is it safe to recap a needle?+
FDA says never to recap a needle used by another person. If you must recap your own before you can reach a container, FDA describes a one-handed method.

Sources

  1. CDC NIOSH: Bloodborne infectious disease risk factors for healthcare workers
  2. CDC: Clinical guidance for HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
  3. FDA: DOs and DON'Ts of proper sharps disposal
  4. FDA: What to do if you can't find a sharps disposal container
  5. Ozempic (semaglutide) US prescribing information and Instructions for Use, DailyMed
  6. Wegovy (semaglutide) US prescribing information and Instructions for Use, DailyMed
  7. Lantus and Lantus SoloStar (insulin glargine) US prescribing information and Instructions for Use, DailyMed

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