The harm of a few doses is not consequential at all. Reporting varies greatly by occupation. Phlebotomists and nurses are more likely to report exposures than are physicians and medical students. Among physicians, surgeons tend to be the least likely to report an exposure, according to Gerberding. If surgeons perceive that they get exposed frequently, they feel they can't run to be tested whenever it happens.
Psychology play a role, too.
Workers may also lack the faith in the confidentiality of their employee health services. With the release of the Public Health Service guidelines, experts expect reporting to increase. In fact, hospitals are going to have to streamline their systems to make it feasible for needlesticks to be reported and evaluated promptly. Three key issues in setting up systems to assist exposed health care workers are the logistics of reporting by the worker, speedy evaluation, and drug availability. Systems are currently flawed, according to Henry.