What happens if you get poked by a used insulin needle?

Needle stick injuries can also happen at home or in the community if needles are not discarded properly. Used needles may have blood or body fluids that carry HIV, the hepatitis B virus (HBV), or the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus can spread to a person who gets pricked by a needle used on an infected person.

What do I do if I poke myself with a used needle?

➜ If you are poked with a needle, or cut with an instrument that was used on another person: Let your wound bleed freely to clean it. Don’t squeeze it. Wash your wound gently with soap and water.

Can diabetes spread through used needle?

Myth Number Two – there are not as many NSIs when treating people with diabetes needles, smaller needles do not carry a significant risk of infection, prophylaxis clears any possible infections, and anyway, diabetes needles and injection devices do not get contaminated. In fact, the situation is exactly the opposite.

Can you get a disease from an insulin needle?

Insulin needle reuse could potentially lead to severe infection, particularly in immunocompromised patients, as illustrated in a recent case report involving a patient who developed abdominal primary cutaneous mucormycosis.

Do needlestick injuries always bleed?

Generally, needlestick injuries cause only minor visible trauma or bleeding; however, even in the absence of bleeding the risk of viral infection remains.

How long is dried blood contagious?

Myth: Dried blood is no longer infectious. Even dried blood can be dangerous as some bloodborne viruses can live and remain infectious for hours or days outside the body. For example, the Hepatitis B virus can live in dried blood for up to a week, and Hepatitis C can survive for up to four days.

Can I use the same needle twice for insulin?

Some people with diabetes use their insulin syringes and lancets more than once to save money. But makers of syringes and lancets do not recommend using them more than once.

How common are needlestick injuries?

cprl1-0510. Needlesticks are a common occurrence in the health care profession. It is estimated that 600 000 to 800 000 needlestick injuries occur per year in the United States [1].

What actions would you take if you had a needle stick injury?

What to do if you receive a sharps injury

• Encourage the wound to gently bleed, ideally holding it under running water.
• Wash the wound using running water and plenty of soap.
• Don’t scrub the wound while you are washing it.
• Don’t suck the wound.
• Dry the wound and cover it with a waterproof plaster or dressing.

What happens if you get a needlestick?

Blood-borne diseases that could be transmitted by a needlestick injury include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV). Thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water, and go to your doctor or nearest emergency department as soon as possible. The risk of disease transmission is low.