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Occupational needlestick exposure — SCE Acute Medicine MCQ

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ModeratePatient Safety and Risk ManagementOccupational needlestick exposureSCE Acute Medicine

A foundation doctor sustains a needlestick injury from a hollow-bore needle used on a patient with unknown blood-borne virus status. The wound has been washed and encouraged to bleed. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

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Correct answer: A — Urgently assess source and recipient risk and consider HIV post-exposure prophylaxis without delay

After a significant needlestick injury, urgent occupational health or emergency assessment is needed, with rapid source testing where consent allows and timely HIV PEP when indicated. Waiting for results may miss the PEP window in higher-risk exposures. There is no hepatitis C vaccine. The wound should be washed, but squeezing or suturing is not definitive prevention.

Reference: UKHSA blood-borne virus post-exposure guidance, BNF