What follow-up care is necessary for a patient who has sustained a needlestick injury and received treatment?

Follow-up care for a patient who has sustained a needlestick injury and received initial treatment includes:

• Arranging follow-up by the prescribing team, typically involving HIV testing at 8–12 weeks after exposure to monitor for seroconversion.
• Advising the patient to attend for future regular sexual health checks if post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) was given.
• Ensuring the patient understands the importance of prompt reporting and assessment of any symptoms suggestive of infection.
• Providing education on infection control measures and safe handling of sharps to prevent future injuries.
• Reporting occupational exposures to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as required by law.

Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should be considered urgently if indicated, and the patient should be referred immediately to an HIV/sexual health clinic or Accident and Emergency department for assessment and treatment initiation if within 72 hours of exposure.

Note that in community-acquired needlestick injuries, PEP is generally not recommended due to the very low risk of HIV transmission and difficulty in assessing the source risk, but expert advice should be sought if risk factors are present.

Initial wound management includes thorough washing with soap and water without squeezing the wound, and mucous membrane irrigation if involved.