Needle Stick: Will I Be Infected?

[Guest guest]

20 Clinical Pearls: Viral Hepatitis

from Infections in Medicine ®

Needle Stick: Will I Be Infected?

The transmission rate after a single HCV-contaminated needle-stick accident

is approximately 3%, which is higher than for HIV (0.3%) but lower than for

HBV (up to 30%). It is likely that the size and location of the wound as

well as the viral load in the inoculum lead to significant variations in

these numbers. There is no postexposure prophylaxis for HCV infection.

However, early detection and treatment of HCV infection lead to cure in

almost all cases.[9]A test for serum HCV-RNA should be performed 2 weeks

after the incident; if results are negative, the test should be repeated

again after 2 more weeks.

For prevention of HBV infection, a combination of active and passive

immunization is recommended; this is most efficient when administered within

24 hours of exposure but is still reasonable within 7 days.[5] Guidelines

for managing occupational exposure to blood are available at:

www.cdc.gov/mmwr/ preview/mmwrhtml/rr5011a1.htm; at:

www.needlestick.mednet.ucla. edu; and at: www.cdc.gov/hepatitis.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/457918_3

[Guest guest]

20 Clinical Pearls: Viral Hepatitis

from Infections in Medicine ®

Needle Stick: Will I Be Infected?

The transmission rate after a single HCV-contaminated needle-stick accident

is approximately 3%, which is higher than for HIV (0.3%) but lower than for

HBV (up to 30%). It is likely that the size and location of the wound as

well as the viral load in the inoculum lead to significant variations in

these numbers. There is no postexposure prophylaxis for HCV infection.

However, early detection and treatment of HCV infection lead to cure in

almost all cases.[9]A test for serum HCV-RNA should be performed 2 weeks

after the incident; if results are negative, the test should be repeated

again after 2 more weeks.

For prevention of HBV infection, a combination of active and passive

immunization is recommended; this is most efficient when administered within

24 hours of exposure but is still reasonable within 7 days.[5] Guidelines

for managing occupational exposure to blood are available at:

www.cdc.gov/mmwr/ preview/mmwrhtml/rr5011a1.htm; at:

www.needlestick.mednet.ucla. edu; and at: www.cdc.gov/hepatitis.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/457918_3

[Guest guest]

20 Clinical Pearls: Viral Hepatitis

from Infections in Medicine ®

Needle Stick: Will I Be Infected?

The transmission rate after a single HCV-contaminated needle-stick accident

is approximately 3%, which is higher than for HIV (0.3%) but lower than for

HBV (up to 30%). It is likely that the size and location of the wound as

well as the viral load in the inoculum lead to significant variations in

these numbers. There is no postexposure prophylaxis for HCV infection.

However, early detection and treatment of HCV infection lead to cure in

almost all cases.[9]A test for serum HCV-RNA should be performed 2 weeks

after the incident; if results are negative, the test should be repeated

again after 2 more weeks.

For prevention of HBV infection, a combination of active and passive

immunization is recommended; this is most efficient when administered within

24 hours of exposure but is still reasonable within 7 days.[5] Guidelines

for managing occupational exposure to blood are available at:

www.cdc.gov/mmwr/ preview/mmwrhtml/rr5011a1.htm; at:

www.needlestick.mednet.ucla. edu; and at: www.cdc.gov/hepatitis.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/457918_3

[Guest guest]

20 Clinical Pearls: Viral Hepatitis

from Infections in Medicine ®

Needle Stick: Will I Be Infected?

The transmission rate after a single HCV-contaminated needle-stick accident

is approximately 3%, which is higher than for HIV (0.3%) but lower than for

HBV (up to 30%). It is likely that the size and location of the wound as

well as the viral load in the inoculum lead to significant variations in

these numbers. There is no postexposure prophylaxis for HCV infection.

However, early detection and treatment of HCV infection lead to cure in

almost all cases.[9]A test for serum HCV-RNA should be performed 2 weeks

after the incident; if results are negative, the test should be repeated

again after 2 more weeks.

For prevention of HBV infection, a combination of active and passive

immunization is recommended; this is most efficient when administered within

24 hours of exposure but is still reasonable within 7 days.[5] Guidelines

for managing occupational exposure to blood are available at:

www.cdc.gov/mmwr/ preview/mmwrhtml/rr5011a1.htm; at:

www.needlestick.mednet.ucla. edu; and at: www.cdc.gov/hepatitis.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/457918_3