Needlestick Injury — ORE Part 1 MCQ
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Correct answer: C — Gently encourage bleeding, then wash with soap and water
**A is correct.** For a puncture or needlestick wound, UK HSE guidance advises gently encouraging the wound to bleed, followed by washing with soap and water. The wound should not be scrubbed or sucked. A waterproof dressing may be applied after cleaning, but this does not replace the initial bleeding and washing steps. Option A omits cleansing and prematurely closes the wound. Option E omits the recommended washing and uses antiseptic alone. Option B is unsafe because sucking is specifically contraindicated. Option D is unsafe because bleach is not used on an injury. The injury should then be reported promptly and assessed through the local occupational-health or urgent-care pathway for blood-borne-virus exposure management.
Reference: Health and Safety Executive. How to deal with an exposure incident at work: Immediate first aid requirements. 2026. https://www.hse.gov.uk/biosafety/blood-borne-viruses/how-deal-exposure-incident.htm