Occupational exposure and healthcare workers

If a healthcare worker has had a needlestick injury (accidental penetration of the skin by a syringe or medical instrument that has been in contact with a patient’s blood), there may be a risk that the healthcare worker has been exposed to HIV and other blood-borne viruses. An assessment of the potential for HIV transmission and of the patient’s HIV status will allow the healthcare worker to make a decision on taking post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).¹

A doctor should seek the patient’s consent for an HIV test before it goes ahead. This request should not be made by the healthcare worker who has been exposed. The patient should also be asked for explicit consent to share the results with the healthcare worker and others involved, such as the worker’s occupational health service.

Hospitals and NHS organisations should make this request a routine procedure for all patients involved in such incidents, regardless of their social background or sexual preferences.

The patient should be informed of the result as soon as possible and offered appropriate support and treatment if necessary.

If a doctor knows about the patient’s HIV status, they should ask the patient’s permission to disclose this. However, if permission is refused, guidance from the General Medical Council says the doctor may have a public interest justification for disclosing the information in such cases.²