Needlestick injury

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Getting stuck by a needle that has someone’s blood or other body fluid on it.

Description

Needlestick injury is a risk for people who work in health care or who work around needles or other sharp objects. Getting stuck can lead to serious infections caused by hepatitis B and C viruses or HIV. Some of these infections can be fatal.

Overview

A needlestick injury most often results in a puncture or cut.

Symptoms

Wash the area right away with soap and water. Quickly get medical help. This is to see if there’s a chance of infection and what else needs to be done.

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