The True Story: A 26G Needle and a Nurse's Left Index Finger

On 14 November 2022, a 33-year-old nurse at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital in South Korea was aspirating a sample from a blister of an mpox patient. She wore a disposable gown, double gloves and a powered air-purifying respirator, but a 26G needle pricked her left index finger and drew blood. She received a vaccine within 20 hours, but on 17 November a small papule appeared exactly where the needle had entered, and tests confirmed mpox. The sore grew and became very painful, and she needed antiviral treatment. Fortunately, the infection stayed local, and the wound healed completely by about day 34.

What This Story Teaches Us

This nurse did everything right with protective equipment, yet an accident with a sharp object still happened. The key lesson is therefore not only about protective gear, but about the whole system of the procedure room, from handling sharps and cleaning after procedures to removing protective equipment. In Thailand, procedure rooms are not only in large hospitals. They are in aesthetic clinics, dermatology clinics, dental clinics, emergency rooms and blood collection units across the country. Mpox patients may come to these clinics with a rash or blisters before they are diagnosed.

• Blister fluid and sores carry a lot of virus
• Needles and sharps push the virus directly into the skin
• Examination beds, lamps and instrument trays touch many patients a day
• Bed sheets and covers that are not changed between patients

How Mpox Spreads in Healthcare Settings

According to the World Health Organization, mpox spreads through contact with an infected person's skin, sores or body fluids, as well as contaminated items. For health workers, sharps injuries and contact with body fluids are the main risks. Mpox is an enveloped virus, which suitable disinfectants can inactivate. The part that can truly be controlled is the procedure room environment.

Common Weak Points in Procedure Rooms and Clinics

1. No screening of patients with rashes or blisters before they enter shared rooms
2. Bed sheets reused for several patients instead of single-use covers
3. Sharps bins placed far from the work area, so staff walk around holding needles
4. Beds wiped quickly, without leaving disinfectant on for the full contact time
5. No needlestick protocol that everyone knows

Safety Guidelines for Procedure Rooms

1. Screen at registration: ask about rash, blisters, fever and contact history
2. Use safety devices, such as needles with safety mechanisms, and never recap needles
3. Place sharps bins within reach at every procedure point
4. Change the bed cover for every patient, and disinfect the bed, lamp and instrument tray between patients
5. Have a needlestick protocol: wash the wound, report immediately and see a doctor quickly to assess post-exposure prevention
6. Practise removing protective equipment correctly, because that is when hands can touch the contaminated outside
7. Fog the whole room after treating a suspected or confirmed mpox patient

How ULV Fogging Helps

The World Health Disinfection disinfection service uses ULV fogging machines that turn the disinfectant into a fine mist. It settles across the whole area, including corners, curtains, upholstery and surfaces that hand wiping cannot fully reach.

• Whole-area coverage without relying on wiping spot by spot
• Quick return to use, typically about 30 minutes after fogging
• The team wears full protective equipment, so owners and staff do not take the risk themselves
• Report and photos after the job to show customers, management or authorities
• Tax invoice with 3% withholding tax for companies and agencies
• More than 5 years of experience in hospitals, offices, hotels and public buildings

The Disinfectant We Use: Chemgene HLD4H

The team uses Chemgene HLD4H. According to WHD's product page, it meets the EN 14476 standard for virucidal activity, is used in NHS hospitals in England, and is endorsed by Mahidol University. We do not claim that Chemgene has been tested against mpox specifically. But mpox is an enveloped virus, which suitable disinfectants can inactivate when used at the manufacturer's stated concentration and contact time.

• No harsh bleach smell
• Works on many surfaces, from desks and counters to handles and equipment
• Can be bought for daily wiping of high-touch points

10 Reasons Clinics and Procedure Rooms Should Have a Disinfection Plan

1. Health workers really can be infected despite protective gear
2. Mpox patients may visit clinics before being diagnosed
3. Examination beds are used by many patients a day
4. It reduces the risk of staff having to stop work
5. The next patients have confidence in the cleanliness
6. It makes healthcare facility standards audits easier
7. It prevents other infections spread by surfaces
8. It uses a standards-tested disinfectant used in NHS hospitals
9. It has no harsh smell to bother patients
10. It provides documents for audits

Before and After

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should I do after a needlestick from a suspected mpox patient? A: Wash the wound immediately, report to your supervisor and see an infectious disease doctor quickly to assess post-exposure prevention. Q: When can a procedure room be used again after fogging? A: Typically about 30 minutes after fogging. Q: Does Chemgene HLD4H kill mpox? A: It is not claimed to be tested against mpox specifically, but it meets EN 14476 for viruses, and mpox is an enveloped virus. Q: Can small clinics request a quotation? A: Yes. Call 065-556-6294 or LINE @whd268.

Related Links and Sources

• World Health Disinfection disinfection service
• Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant and price
• Mpox information from Thailand's Department of Disease Control, hotline 1422
• WHO mpox fact sheet

Prevent It with a Disinfection Service and Chemgene HLD4H

The true story from South Korea tells us that protective equipment alone is not enough. A safe procedure room needs a system for screening, handling sharps and disinfecting the environment. Prevent it with the World Health Disinfection disinfection service for procedure and examination rooms, and Chemgene HLD4H disinfectant for wiping beds and equipment between patients.

Call 065-556-6294 | LINE: @whd268