“I jabbed myself with a used needle at work an hour ago — I’m panicking about HIV and hepatitis. What do I do?”

A NEEDLESTICK/sharps exposure needs a structured, time-critical response. Start with immediate FIRST AID: encourage the wound to bleed, wash with soap and running water (do not scrub or suck), and irrigate mucosa/eyes for splashes. RISK-ASSESS the exposure — percutaneous versus mucosal/non-intact skin, hollow-bore (higher risk) versus solid needle, depth, visible blood, and the SOURCE patient’s HIV/HBV/HCV status/risk. Refer urgently, the same day, to OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH (or the emergency department) for assessment and bloods — recipient baseline serology and source testing with the source’s consent, sought by someone other than the exposed worker — and report the incident (Sharps Regulations 2013; RIDDOR if the source is known to carry a blood-borne virus). Consider HIV POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PEP), started as soon as possible (ideally within 24 hours, not beyond 72 hours; 28 days; not indicated if the source is undetectable on treatment for at least 6 months with good adherence; check pregnancy and interactions — BHIVA/BASHH 2021), so assessment is time-critical and made via occ-health/specialist guidance. For HEPATITIS B, check/ensure vaccination status (booster/accelerated course if needed) and give HBV immunoglobulin if the recipient is non-immune with a high-risk/positive source; for HEPATITIS C there is no vaccine or PEP, so perform baseline and follow-up testing (HCV RNA at 6 and 12 weeks, anti-HCV at 12 and 24 weeks) to detect seroconversion with early antiviral treatment if it occurs. Advise condoms and no blood or tissue donation until follow-up is complete. Ensure incident reporting, baseline and follow-up testing per protocol, and provide reassurance and psychological support — acknowledging the significant anxiety while explaining that single-exposure transmission risk is generally low — and safety-net.