Infections that used needles and sharps can pass on to other people include: <ul> <li><a href="/hepatitis/hepatitis-b">hepatitis B</a></li> <li><a href="/hepatitis/hepatitis-c">hepatitis C</a></li> <li><a href="/hiv-aids">HIV</a></li> </ul> Although rare, there's also a small risk of other infections being transmitted through contaminated blood, such as <a href="/viral-infections/cytomegalovirus">cytomegalovirus (CMV)</a> and <a href="/viral-infections/glandular-fever">Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)</a>. For immediate first aid advice if you have injured yourself, see <a href="/medicine-safety/injuries-from-used-needles">What should I do if I injure myself with a used needle?</a>

What infections can used needles or sharps pass on?

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. ::: body-ad-desktop zones:: 232632,232510,232640 types:: 163 disclaimer:: AD typeFilter:: native_ad adCount:: 1 ::: ::: body-ad-mobile zones:: 232632,232510,232642 types:: 5,163 disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT typeFilter:: display/native_ad adCount:: 1 :::

Needles and sharps

Some people have an increased risk of needle-stick injuries as a result of their job. These include: <ul> <li>nurses</li> <li>doctors</li> <li>surgeons</li> <li>dentists</li> <li>dental nurses</li> <li>phlebotomists</li> <li>hygienists</li> <li>laboratory technicians</li> <li>the police</li> <li>prison and probation services</li> <li>customs and excise</li> <li>social workers</li> <li>funeral workers</li> <li>piercers and tattooists</li> <li>building and demolition workers</li> </ul> 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. ::: body-ad-mobile zones:: 232632,232510,233460 types:: 5 disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT typeFilter:: display adCount:: 1 :::

People at increased risk

If you have received treatment for a needle-stick injury, you may need some support. For example, <a href="/mental-health-therapy/counselling">counselling</a> may help with any stress the injury has caused. Your employer's occupational health service can advise you on sick leave. Injuries from needles used in medical procedures are sometimes called needle-stick or sharps injuries.

Support after an injury

Infections that used needles and sharps can pass on to other people include:

- [hepatitis B](/hepatitis/hepatitis-b)
- [hepatitis C](/hepatitis/hepatitis-c)
- [HIV](/hiv-aids)

Although rare, there's also a small risk of other infections being transmitted through contaminated blood, such as [cytomegalovirus (CMV)](/viral-infections/cytomegalovirus) and [Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)](/viral-infections/glandular-fever).

For immediate first aid advice if you have injured yourself, see [What should I do if I injure myself with a used needle?](/medicine-safety/injuries-from-used-needles)

## 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.


::: body-ad-desktop
zones:: 232632,232510,232640
types:: 163
disclaimer:: AD
typeFilter:: native_ad
adCount:: 1

:::


::: body-ad-mobile
zones:: 232632,232510,232642
types:: 5,163
disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT
typeFilter:: display/native_ad
adCount:: 1

:::

## 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.


::: body-ad-mobile
zones:: 232632,232510,233460
types:: 5
disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT
typeFilter:: display
adCount:: 1

:::

## Support after an injury

If you have received treatment for a needle-stick injury, you may need some support. For example, [counselling](/mental-health-therapy/counselling) may help with any stress the injury has caused. Your employer's occupational health service can advise you on sick leave.

Injuries from needles used in medical procedures are sometimes called needle-stick or sharps injuries.

error

 There was an error when submitting your feedback – have a screen break then try again in a few minutes.

Oh no, something’s gone wrong

ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS?

initial

This isn’t helpful

This isn’t relevant

Something is wrong

This isn’t accurate

Please select one.

loading

success

We're listening – we use your feedback to improve your experience, and make our content more helpful.

Thank you for your feedback

References

Healthily's medical team

Article information

All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe. View more details in our <a href="/safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">safety page</a>, or read our <a href="/legal/editorial-policy-principles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">editorial policy</a>.

Infections that used needles and sharps can pass on to other people include Hepatitis B/C and HIV. Learn about the risk of needles here - using content verified by certified doctors.