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Needlestick injuries

If skin is punctured by a sharp medical tool like a scalpel or needle on a syringe, it is called a ‘needlestick injury’.

Needlesticks don’t just happen in hospitals – stepping on a needle in park is the same thing. Infection by HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C in these situations is rare. Seek medical attention immediately. Follow the links below to find trusted information about needlestick injuries.

Last reviewed: February 2014

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Treating needlestick injuries

In Western Australia to date there has not been a documented case of a person contracting HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C from a needlestick injury that occurred in a community setting.

Read more on WA Health website

HIV/AIDS

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). HIV damages the immune system leading to serious infections. Reported HIV cases have begun to increase in recent years.

Read more on Department of Health website

Hepatitis C virus - Lab Tests Online AU

Hepatitis C is a virus that can infect and damage the liver. In most cases, it is contracted through exposure to blood (usually from sharing contaminated needles while injecting drugs or, before 1990, through a blood transfusion) and it can be passed from mother to baby. Other ways it can occasionally be transmitted include needlestick injuries in a healthcare setting, sharing razor blades and toothbrushes, tattooing and body piercing and rarely through sexual transmission where blood-to-blood contact occurs. Hepatitis C antibody is produced in response to exposure to the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The most common test for HCV looks for these antibodies in your blood. Other tests detect the presence of the actual virus, the amount of virus present, or determine the specific subtype of virus.

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Needlestick injuries