Accidental needlesticks possible in farm work

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Of all the dangers imagined existing on the farm, accidental needlesticks are probably not high on most people’s lists.

But Leslie Woolington, safety specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the reality is that needlestick injuries can happen when working around livestock.

“Needlestick injuries are usually minor, but they can be serious,” said Woolington, who is also risk manager with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. “The most common injuries are skin infections and allergic reactions, but they can cause deep tissue wounds that require surgery.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that more than 80% of farm workers vaccinating animals have accidentally stuck themselves. That makes vaccines the most common type of drug involved in needlestick injuries.

If accidentally stuck with a needle on the farm, the first step is to wash the area immediately with soap and water. Report the injury to a supervisor and call a healthcare provider with information about the substance involved. Poison Control can provide specific help when calling 800-222-1222.

Certain products require extra care when handling. Information provided by the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center state that these include sedatives, oil-based products or vaccines and modified live vaccines. Other specific products that require extra care are the antibiotic Tilmicosin, Brucella abortus Strain RB51 vaccine and Johne’s vaccine.

“Anyone who is pregnant should be especially careful around injectable hormones, and anyone with a known antibiotic allergy should be careful around those products,” Woolington said.

Ways to avoid getting stuck with a needle start with restraining animals properly and not rushing when giving an injection.

“Don’t recap needles, but immediately dispose of them in approved sharps containers,” she said. “Don’t store needles or syringes in your pocket or hold caps in your mouth. And always discard bent or dull needles.”

Mary Nelson Robertson, MSU Extension health specialist, said a person who has been accidentally stuck with a needle may show symptoms such as swelling or itching within a few minutes.

“Other times, it may take hours or even days for signs to appear, such as a fever or redness from a bacterial infection that starts slow but builds over time,” Robertson said. “It really depends on what was in the syringe and the person’s own bodily response to what was accidentally injected.”

She said anyone in this case who feels a bit off and is possibly lightheaded or nauseated, or one who notices the affected area getting warm or puffy should act early rather than wait and see what happens.

“It is important to clean the area with soap and water, report it and get checked out by a healthcare provider after an accidental needlestick,” she said. “Even if it seems small, taking action early can make a big difference.”

Robertson said there is still a risk even if the syringe was empty when the needlestick happened.

“An empty syringe can still carry bacteria or medication residue, so it is not risk-free,” she said. “Always take needlesticks seriously. There is no such thing as a ‘safe’ needlestick.”

Jessica Halfen, Extension dairy specialist, said taking blood samples for experimental trials presents another opportunity for accidental needlesticks.

“Often, we are in a hurry to collect samples and get them to the lab, and in those situations, needles sometimes end up in pockets, which can later cause injuries,” Halfen said. “In some cases, needles have even remained in farm coverall pockets for months, creating an even more dangerous situation as they can become rusty.”