Needle hygiene on holiday

Reduce the risks

To reduce the risk of picking up HIV, hepatitis B or C and other blood-borne infections:

• Avoid injecting drugs for non-medicinal purposes (recreational drugs)
• If an injection is essential, ensure the needle and syringe come from sterile packages or have been sterilised by steam or boiling water for 20 minutes
• Do not share needles
• Carry sufficient sterile needles and syringes for the duration of your trip and a doctor's note of authorisation for their use (along with details of your medication, doses)
• Avoid unsterile dental and surgical instruments, needles used in tattooing and acupuncture, ear-piercing devices and other skin-piercing instruments
• Some people choose to pack a kit including sterile suture needles and intravenous drip needles, just in case of emergencies abroad.

Some countries screen incoming travellers (primarily those on extended visits, for work or study) using blood tests to check for infectious diseases, and deny entry to persons with AIDS or those whose test results indicate they're HIV-positive.

If you intend to visit a country for a substantial period of time, you will need to know about the policies and requirements of that particular country. This information is usually available from consular officials of individual nations.