Therapeutic guidelines : Management of accidental exposure to HIV

The Centre does not recommend prophylaxis for needlesticks from an abandoned needle outside the health care setting when there is no history of the origin of the needle or the time of its abandonment. [...] Explain to the source that the exposed person will not be informed of the result of the HIV test; nor the source’s identity unless the source is already known to the exposed person. [...] The centre may recommend a change in the regimen of the prophylaxis or withdrawal of prophylaxis and the physician will be contacted. [...] For patients unable to tolerate the starter kit beyond the first five days of therapy, the Centre will make available other antiretrovirals to be used for the remainder of the month. [...] If the source is not known to be HIV positive the risk of transmission drops dramatically and frequently the risk of prophylaxis exceeds the risk of infection.