Infections that used needles and sharps can pass on to other people include: hepatitis B hepatitis C HIV Although rare, there's also a small risk of other infections being transmitted through contaminated blood, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). For immediate first aid adviRead more
Infections that used needles and sharps can pass on to other people include:
Once someone has used a needle, viruses in their blood may contaminate it. This includes needles used to inject illegal drugs.
Sharps can include other medical supplies, such as syringes, scalpels and lancets, and glass from broken equipment. Blood can also contaminate these.
Injuries from needles used in medical procedures are sometimes called needle-stick or sharps injuries.
People at increased risk
Some people have an increased risk of needle-stick injuries as a result of their job.
These include:
nurses
doctors
surgeons
dentists
dental nurses
phlebotomists
hygienists
laboratory technicians
the police
prison and probation services
customs and excise
social workers
funeral workers
piercers and tattooists
building and demolition workers
If you injure yourself with a used needle at work, report the incident to your supervisor or manager immediately. There may be procedures in place you need to follow.
If you’re at increased risk of needle-stick injuries because of your job, you may also need to take other preventative measures. For example, you may need to have a hepatitis B vaccination.
Support after an injury
If you have received treatment for a needle-stick injury, you may need some support. For example, counselling may help with any stress the injury has caused. Your employer’s occupational health service can advise you on sick leave.
Some infections can be passed on in blood or in body fluids (such as saliva) that can become mixed with blood. These are known as blood-borne viruses (BBVs). The risk of an infection being passed on in this way largely depends on the type of infection and how you come into contact with the infectedRead more
Some infections can be passed on in blood or in body fluids (such as saliva) that can become mixed with blood. These are known as blood-borne viruses (BBVs).
The risk of an infection being passed on in this way largely depends on the type of infection and how you come into contact with the infected blood.
Which infections can be passed on?
The most common blood-borne viruses in the UK are:
These viruses can also be found in body fluids other than blood, such as semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. Other body fluids such as urine, saliva and sweat only carry a very small risk of infection, unless they contain blood.
However, the presence of blood is not always obvious, and it is possible for someone to have one of these infections without realising it.
Routes of transmission
The chance of an infection being passed on from someone else’s blood also depends on how you come into contact with the infected blood. This is known as the route of transmission. The risks associated with different routes of transmission are outlined below.
Higher risk of infection
The risk of an infection being passed on is highest if your skin is broken or punctured as you come into contact with the infected blood.
For example, if:
you puncture your skin with a used needle or other sharp object that has infected blood on it
someone with blood in their saliva bites you and breaks your skin
Lower risk of infection
The risk of an infection being passed on from someone else’s blood is lower if the blood only comes into contact with your eyes, mouth, nose, or skin that’s already broken.
For example, if someone spits in your face, they may have blood in their saliva and it may get in your eyes, mouth or nose. The infected saliva may also get into an existing cut, graze or scratch.
There is also a lower risk of infection if infected blood comes into contact with skin that is already broken due to a health condition like eczema.
Very low risk of infection
The risk of infection is very low if infected blood comes into contact with unbroken skin.
What infections can used needles or sharps pass on?
InfoMed HEALTH
Infections that used needles and sharps can pass on to other people include: hepatitis B hepatitis C HIV Although rare, there's also a small risk of other infections being transmitted through contaminated blood, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). For immediate first aid adviRead more
Infections that used needles and sharps can pass on to other people include:
Although rare, there’s also a small risk of other infections being transmitted through contaminated blood, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).
For immediate first aid advice if you have injured yourself, see What should I do if I injure myself with a used needle?
Needles and sharps
Once someone has used a needle, viruses in their blood may contaminate it. This includes needles used to inject illegal drugs.
Sharps can include other medical supplies, such as syringes, scalpels and lancets, and glass from broken equipment. Blood can also contaminate these.
Injuries from needles used in medical procedures are sometimes called needle-stick or sharps injuries.
People at increased risk
Some people have an increased risk of needle-stick injuries as a result of their job.
These include:
If you injure yourself with a used needle at work, report the incident to your supervisor or manager immediately. There may be procedures in place you need to follow.
If you’re at increased risk of needle-stick injuries because of your job, you may also need to take other preventative measures. For example, you may need to have a hepatitis B vaccination.
Support after an injury
If you have received treatment for a needle-stick injury, you may need some support. For example, counselling may help with any stress the injury has caused. Your employer’s occupational health service can advise you on sick leave.
Read the answers to more questions about accidents, first aid and treatments.
See lessWhat is the risk of infection from someone else’s blood?
InfoMed HEALTH
Some infections can be passed on in blood or in body fluids (such as saliva) that can become mixed with blood. These are known as blood-borne viruses (BBVs). The risk of an infection being passed on in this way largely depends on the type of infection and how you come into contact with the infectedRead more
Some infections can be passed on in blood or in body fluids (such as saliva) that can become mixed with blood. These are known as blood-borne viruses (BBVs).
The risk of an infection being passed on in this way largely depends on the type of infection and how you come into contact with the infected blood.
Which infections can be passed on?
The most common blood-borne viruses in the UK are:
These viruses can also be found in body fluids other than blood, such as semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. Other body fluids such as urine, saliva and sweat only carry a very small risk of infection, unless they contain blood.
However, the presence of blood is not always obvious, and it is possible for someone to have one of these infections without realising it.
Routes of transmission
The chance of an infection being passed on from someone else’s blood also depends on how you come into contact with the infected blood. This is known as the route of transmission. The risks associated with different routes of transmission are outlined below.
Higher risk of infection
The risk of an infection being passed on is highest if your skin is broken or punctured as you come into contact with the infected blood.
For example, if:
Lower risk of infection
The risk of an infection being passed on from someone else’s blood is lower if the blood only comes into contact with your eyes, mouth, nose, or skin that’s already broken.
For example, if someone spits in your face, they may have blood in their saliva and it may get in your eyes, mouth or nose. The infected saliva may also get into an existing cut, graze or scratch.
There is also a lower risk of infection if infected blood comes into contact with skin that is already broken due to a health condition like eczema.
Very low risk of infection
The risk of infection is very low if infected blood comes into contact with unbroken skin.
See less