What is the action plan for needle stick injury?

The action plan for a needle stick injury involves immediate wound care, reporting the incident, and risk assessment.

Here's a detailed breakdown of the steps to take:

Immediate Actions

Wash the Wound: Immediately wash the site of the needle stick injury thoroughly with soap and water. This helps to reduce the risk of infection.

Report the Incident: Report the needle stick injury to the appropriate personnel or department within your workplace.
Complete an Exposure Report: Fill out an exposure report sheet. This document records the details of the incident for investigation and follow-up.

The exposure should be thoroughly assessed to determine the risk of infection. Key factors to consider include:

Type of Fluid: Identify the source fluid (e.g., blood, other body fluids).
Type of Needle: Note the type of needle involved (e.g., hollow-bore, suture needle).
Amount of Blood: Estimate the amount of blood on the needle.
Source Patient: Determine if the source patient is known and if they are available for testing for bloodborne pathogens (e.g., HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C).

Action	Description
Immediate Wound Care	Wash the site immediately with soap and water.
Incident Reporting	Report the incident to the appropriate personnel.
Exposure Report Completion	Fill out the exposure report sheet.
Exposure Risk Assessment	Evaluate the type of fluid, needle, amount of blood, and source patient's status.