IBSC Certified Designated Infection Control Officer (DICO-C) Certification Practice Exam

Immediate post-exposure actions after a needlestick require prompt wound care, reporting, and medical assessment. Start by cleansing the wound right away with soap and running water, gently washing the area without squeezing or using abrasive substances. This helps reduce the amount of potentially infectious material that can enter the body. Next, report the incident to your supervisor and begin the documentation. Recording the exposure ensures it’s officially tracked, triggers the necessary occupational health processes, and prompts follow-up actions such as incident review and exposure calculations for the individual and the department. Finally, seek medical evaluation as soon as possible. A clinician can perform a risk assessment, obtain baseline testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C, review vaccination status, and determine whether post-exposure prophylaxis or additional follow-up is needed. The timing is important; starting evaluation and preventive measures early can significantly reduce infection risk. Waiting for symptoms is not reliable, and delays can miss a window when treatment is most effective.