A junior doctor sustains a needlestick injury from a hollow-bore needle immediately after taking blood from a patient newly diagnosed with HIV with a ...

Question

A junior doctor sustains a needlestick injury from a hollow-bore needle immediately after taking blood from a patient newly diagnosed with HIV with a high viral load. The injury bleeds slightly. What is the most appropriate management?

Accepted Answer

Wash the wound, start antiretroviral post-exposure prophylaxis as soon as possible and refer to occupational health

Answer

Wash the wound, reassure that risk is negligible and take no further action

Answer

Start high-dose steroids to suppress immune response

Answer

Delay any treatment until the patient’s CD4 count is known

Answer

Advise routine follow-up only at 1 year

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): HIV post-exposure prophylaxis

A junior doctor sustains a needlestick injury from a hollow-bore needle immediately after taking blood from a patient newly diagnosed with HIV with a high viral load. The injury bleeds slightly. What is the most appropriate management?