Occupational Sharps Injury Management

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational sharps injury remains a never-ending issue faced by healthcare workers (HCWs). There were several types of post-exposure management available. Thus, it was hoped that a narrative overview could further illuminate this. Methodology: A search was conducted to review published and unpublished studies through searches of online databases (i.e., PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Google search and Science Direct) on occupational sharps injury management, including bloodborne diseases, post-exposure management and rationale of the follow-up interval. Results: Working in a healthcare setting, sharps appeared to be an inevitable hazard faced every day by individual HCWs. While PEP was available for HIV and Hepatitis B, none was available for Hepatitis C, albeit the latter seemed to have curative treatment for it. Conclusion: We hoped that this narrative overview could provide an impetus towards the understanding of post-exposure management in our local healthcare setting.