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Bloodborne Pathogens and
Needlestick Prevention |
| Post-exposure Evaluation |
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In
Focus |
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If you are stuck by a needle or other sharp, or get blood
or other potentially infectious materials in your eyes, nose, mouth,
or on broken skin:
- Immediately flood the exposed area with water and clean any wound with soap
and water or a skin disinfectant if available.
- Report this immediately to your employer.
- Seek immediate medical attention.
Guidelines for post-exposure follow-up:
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According to the NIOSH Alert Preventing
Needlestick Injuries in Health Care Settings, it is estimated that 600,000 to
800,000 needlestick injuries (NSIs) and other percutaneous injuries (PIs) occur
annually among health care workers. PIs are caused by sharp objects such as
hypodermic needles, scalpels, suture needles, wires, trochanters, surgical pins,
and saws. Additional exposure incidents include splashes and other contact with mucous
membranes or non-intact skin. Post-exposure management is an integral
part of a complete program for preventing infection following exposure incidents.
The following references provide useful information about the management of occupational exposure
incidents to blood or other potentially infectious materials.
- Notice to Readers: Approval of a new rapid test for HIV antibody. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
(MMWR) 51(46);1051-1052, (2002, November 22). The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) announces the OraQuick Rapid HIV-1 Antibody Test.
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A Comprehensive Immunization Strategy to Eliminate Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the United States.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report (MMWR) 55(RR16);1-25, (2006, December 8).
- Updated
U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
(MMWR) 54(RR09);1-17, (2005, September 30). Updates US Public
Health Service recommendations for the management of health-care personnel (HCP)
who have occupational exposure to blood and other body fluids that might
contain human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
- Updated
U.S. Public Health Service Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for
Post-exposure
Prophylaxis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 50(RR11);1-42, (2001, June 29). Updates and
consolidates recommendations for the management of health-care personnel (HCP).
- Immunization
of Health-Care Workers: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Hospital Infection Control Practices
Advisory Committee (HICPAC). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 46(RR-18);1-42, (1997, December 26).
Summarizes recommendations of the ACIP concerning the use of certain
immunizing agents in HCWs, and assists workers and administrators, in optimizing infection prevention and control programs.
- National HIV/AIDS Clinicians' Consultation Center. University of California - San
Francisco. Offers a post-exposure prophylaxis hotline called PEPline.
PEPline offers health care providers around-the-clock advice about managing occupational exposures to HIV and Hepatitis B and C.
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EPINet.
University of Virginia, International Health Care Worker Safety
Center. The Exposure Prevention Information Network (EPINet) system provides standardized methods for recording and
tracking percutaneous injuries and blood and body fluid contacts. EPINet consists of a Needlestick and Sharp Injury Report, a Blood and Body
Fluid Exposure Report, and software for entering, accessing, and analyzing the data
from the forms.
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