Living with needlestick injuries.

Exposure to contaminated sharp objects is one of the inherent hazards of working in a clinical setting. Today, primarily due to concerns about possible HIV infection, a "terror-factor" strikes mortal fear, whether imagined or real, in the heart of individuals who suffer a subcutaneous sharp object injury. The psychological effects of sustaining a sharp object injury and the actual danger of contracting a potentially lethal viral infection following such an occurrence are discussed. Methods of avoiding a sharp object injury and possible treatment options are also considered.