Question

On a busy Friday night, a nurse in the emergency department of a large Sydney teaching hospital suffered a needlestick injury to her gloved hand while attending to a patient who had been admitted with a drug overdose. The patient subsequently tested positive for hepatitis C. What should the nurse have done after the needlestick injury?

Select one:

a. Thoroughly washed her hands, as it was a minor accident.

b. Reported the injury and subjected herself to a blood test.

c. Stopped work immediately and gone home to worry.

d. Replaced the glove with a fresh glove and continued working as it was busy.  

Answer 1

Answer is Option b

She should report this incident to the hospital authority and blood test should be conducted.

Only after blood test the treatment and the amount of immunity against hepatitis can be found . After that only vaccine can be given

Option a is wrong because

Even if it is minor injuries the risk for infection is high

Option c is wrong as going home is not the solution for this problem.

Option d is wrong as replacing the gloves will not help already injury has occurred so it will not be cured by changing gloves