Immediate measures

• Contaminated needlestick, sharps injury, bite or scratch – encourage bleeding, wash with soap and running water

• Blood or body fluid in the eyes or mouth – irrigate with copious quantities of cold water

• Blood or body fluid on broken skin – encourage bleeding if possible and wash with soap under running water (but without scrubbing)

Post-exposure prophylaxis

A 47-year-old practice receptionist sustains a deep needlestick injury. She has not had hepatitis B vaccination. What is the LATEST time after exposure that immunisation with hepatitis B vaccine should be given?

• Two days

• 28 days

• One day

• Three days

• Seven days

Immunisation with the hepatitis B vaccine should be given as soon as possible, ideally within 48 hours but no later than seven days after exposure.

References

• Immunisation against infectious disease - the Green Book (latest edition) (Public Health England.)

• Managing the Risk of Sharps Injuries (NHS Employers, 2015)