Needlestick and work-related injuries with a risk of blood infection

On this page you can find information on what to do if you suffer a needlestick or a work-related injury with a risk of blood infection.

A work/needlestick injury might, for example, consist of blood or other bodily fluids from the patient on the skin, splashing on mucous membrane, or in the eyes, while administering a test, injection or while suturing.

In case of an injury - flowchart needlestick

Please note that a different flowchart should be used when Student Wellbeing Centre is closed.

When Student Wellbeing Centre is closed

Study placement abroad

The risk assessment of the index patient is carried out by a doctor at the location of the placement. Samples are taken from the patient and if possible, antibody tests should be done on the student at the placement location (hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV).

If you are in a low-income country, contact Falck Global Assistance for advice and direction to appropriate care facilities. If prophylactic treatment is indicated it should be initiated after no more than 36 hours. In case of insufficient immunity against Hepatitis B, a Hepatitis B vaccination should also be administered.

Falck Global Assistance
Phone: +46 (0)8 587 717 17
Email: fga@se.falck.com

KI Student

  1. Report your injury in the KI incident reporting system
  2. Contact Student Wellbeing Centre for follow-up when you arrive home.
  3. Notify KI's personal injury insurance from the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet)

Other higher education institutions

  1. Contact the programme coordinator
  2. Contact Student Wellbeing Centre for follow-up when you arrive home.
  3. Notify your university’s insurance company of your injury

If you have questions you may contact

  • Infectious diseases clinic at HIV Centre, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge +46 73 699 6128 (office hours)
  • on-call infectious disease doctor at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge +46 8 585 800 00 (switchboard) or Solna +46 8 517 700 00 (switchboard)
  • Student Wellbeing Centre +46 8 524 835 60, leave a message and we will call you back.

Needlestick injury report (in Swedish, Stick- och skärskadejournal)

Contact

Student Wellbeing Centre

08-524 835 70