What is the first action after a needlestick injury?

• A. Apply pressure for 10 minutes
• B. Wash the area with soap and water and report the incident for follow-up and exposure protocol
• C. Immediately begin post-exposure prophylaxis
• D. Discard the needle in the trash

Answer: (B)

The action that matters first is to wash the exposed area with soap and water and report the incident for follow-up and the exposure protocol. Cleaning the wound promptly helps remove as much blood and potential pathogens as possible and reduces transmission risk. Reporting triggers the official exposure protocol, which guides immediate steps such as documentation, baseline testing (e.g., HIV, hepatitis B and C), and a risk assessment to determine whether post-exposure prophylaxis is needed. Post-exposure prophylaxis is considered after evaluation; it should not be started automatically without assessment, because it may be unnecessary or inappropriate and could cause side effects. Discarding the needle or applying excessive pressure isn’t part of the proper first response and could increase harm or delay proper care.