Management of Needlestick & Contamination Injuries - Royal ...

initiating the above and or the on call GUM physician. If the source is unknown advicemay also be sought on the management of the case.A 6ml clotted blood sample (red top) must be obtained from the injured or exposedperson and stored in the Microbiology Department at Poole for future testing ifnecessary. NB. Whenever samples are taken from the exposed person where possiblegive details of the hepatitis B vaccination history on the request form.7.3 Procedures for acting upon Hepatitis B source needlestickAction required:Source HBsAg Negative: no further action necessary.Source HBsAg Positive7.3.1 Exposed person already received a full course of Hepatitis B Vaccine• If hepatitis B antibody (anti - HBs) level known to be > 100 iu/ml and a booster dosehas been given 5 years after the primary course, no further action is needed (longterm immunity can be assumed).• If it is more than 5 years since the primary course was given, but the 5 year boosterdose has not been given, it must be given now.• If the post primary vaccination course antiHBs level is unknown but the course hasbeen completed in the last 6 months check the Anti-Hbs level, if the course hasbeen completed more than 6 months Hepatitis B Booster is indicated with are-check of the anti-HBs level 2 months later.7.3.2 Exposed person not vaccinated• Start course of hepatitis B vaccine.• Hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) must be given as soon as possible afterexposure and certainly within 48 hours. This must be given at a different site to theHepatitis B vaccine. HBIG is available from Pharmacy. HBIG must be given as soonas possible after exposure and preferably within 48 hours. It is of no value later thanone week after exposure. (Any concerns seek advice from microbiologists)RBCHOCCHEALTH\DATA\WS\POLICIES\NEEDLESTICKPOLICY\SHARPS POLICY\VERSION 6 LP 2011Page 12 of 33