A nurse accidentally pricked herself with the needle after taking a blood sample from a patient. Two days later, the patient's HIV test came back positive. Is the nurse at risk of getting HIV?
Yes, the nurse is at risk of acquiring HIV after a needlestick injury from a patient who was later confirmed to be HIV positive. However, the overall risk from a single needlestick injury is relatively low, and prompt treatment can greatly reduce this risk. If the injury occurred within the past 72 hours, the nurse should start HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) as soon as possible, ideally within 2 hours of exposure, and continue the treatment for 28 days as prescribed. The incident should be reported immediately, and baseline HIV testing should be performed, followed by repeat testing at the recommended intervals. Until follow-up is complete, the nurse should practise safer sex and avoid donating blood, organs, or tissues. Early medical evaluation and the timely initiation of PEP are the most important steps to reduce the risk of HIV infection after occupational exposure.
