Audit of emergency department assessment and management of patients presenting with community-acquired needle stick injuries.

Objectives: To describe characteristics and management of people with community acquired needle stick injuries (CANSI) attending urban emergency departments; and suggest a guideline to improve assessment, management, and documentation.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of cases with CANSI attending emergency departments in two tertiary hospitals between 2001 and 2005 using medical record review with follow up phone and written survey.

Results: Thirty-nine cases met the criteria for CANSI.