Needles are an occupational hazard for medical professionals - but not just doctors and nurses, it could be laboratory workers or dentists too. Some have become infected with HIV as a result of being injured by a needle during the course of their work. Although an area of concern, the risk of contracting the virus this way is less than 1%. Certain specific factors may mean a needle stick injury carries a higher risk, for example:
• A deep injury. • An injury with a hollow bore needle. • Where the source patient has a high viral load. • When the sharp instrument is visibly contaminated with blood. • When the sharp instrument has been in an artery/vein.
