Treatment should be available during all working hours and on call after hours (for example, through an on-call infectious diseases physician). Patients or others exposed to blood or other body fluids/substances must be informed of the exposure by a designated professional, while maintaining confidentiality about the source of the blood.
Full Answer
What to do if you are exposed to blood or fluids?
Any time you are exposed to blood or other bodily fluids in the manner discussed previously, you must seek medical attention. Immediately go to your doctor’s office for an evaluation and to ascertain, what if any steps need to be taken to protect your health and wellbeing.
What is occupational exposure to blood?
Occupational Exposure to Blood. The pathogen involved. The type and severity of exposure The amount of blood involved in the exposure The amount of pathogen in the patient’s blood at the time of exposure. Although most exposures do not result in infection, the exposed person should be evaluated immediately by a qualified health care professional...
What should be done if someone is exposed to bloodborne diseases?
The exposed person should be examined to confirm the nature of exposure and counselled about the possibility of transmission of bloodborne disease. The exposed person should have a medical evaluation, including information about medications they are taking, and underlying medical conditions or circumstances.
How many days post exposure to blood or bodily fluids should the medical Assistant receive the written opinion from the healthcare provider?
within 15 daysThe employer must obtain and provide the worker with a copy of the evaluating healthcare professional's written opinion within 15 days of completion of the evaluation.
How soon after a possible bloodborne exposure should you be seen?
The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard requires medical follow-up for workers who have an exposure incident. Exposures should be reported within 1 hour if possible to allow for prompt intervention to reduce the risk of infection. Follow the protocol of your employer.
When exposed to blood or body fluids What should you do?
What should I do if I am exposed?Wash your hands immediately after any exposure to blood or body fluids, even if you wear gloves.If you get splashed in the eyes, nose, or mouth, flush with water.If you are pricked by a needle (needle stick), contact your doctor right away for further advice.
When the healthcare worker exposes a patient to a bloodborne pathogen he or she must?
All patients and health care workers who have been potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens should be strongly counseled to seek testing so they may benefit from medical management. Health care workers should also seek screening for bloodborne diseases per CDC recommendations as part of their own health care.
What are the CDC recommendations for treatment immediately following an exposure?
Postexposure treatment should begin as soon as possible after exposure, prefer- ably within 24 hours, and no later than 7 days. Treatment should be started as soon as possible, preferably within hours as opposed to days, after the exposure.
What is the procedure to follow post-exposure to blood?
Wash the site of the needlestick or cut with soap and water.Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water.Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigants.Report the incident to your supervisor or the person in your practice responsible for managing exposures.More items...
When is training of employees potentially exposed to blood or body fluids required by the OSHA?
Under the category "Any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood," UP and the BBP standard would apply when there is visible contamination of these fluids with blood. OSHA recommends that employers develop and implement exposure control plans for all types of infectious agents.
When should you seek medical advice if you come into direct contact with a person's body fluids while giving first aid?
If you come into direct contact with a person's body fluids while giving first aid, wash the exposed area and seek medical advice as soon as possible.
What is the appropriate response in a workplace emergency situation involving blood and body fluids?
Employers shall ensure that employees wash hands and any other skin with soap and water, or flush mucous membranes with water immediately or as soon as feasible following contact of such body areas with blood or other potentially infectious materials.
When reporting an exposure incident on a BBP exposure from the record must include?
The report for any first aid exposure incident must include the following: the first aid providers that gave assistance, indication if PPE was used, and a description of the first aid incident with date and time.
What is the OSHA standard for bloodborne pathogens?
What is the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard? OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) as amended pursuant to the 2000 Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, is a regulation that prescribes safeguards to protect workers against health hazards related to bloodborne pathogens.
What is the first thing an employee should do if exposed to a bloodborne pathogen?
What should you do if you're exposed? Wash needlesticks and cuts with soap and water. Flush splashes to nose, mouth, or skin with water. Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile wash.
What are the risks of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens?
Health care personnel are at risk for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens — pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Following a specific exposure, ...
When did the Needlestick and Prevention Act start?
The Needlestick and Prevention Act of 2001 requires employers to identify, evaluate, and select devices with engineered safety features at least annually and as new devices become available.
What constitutes occupational exposure in dentistry?
What constitutes an occupational exposure in dentistry? Occupational exposures can occur through needlesticks or cuts from other sharp instruments contaminated with an infected patient’s blood (including blood contaminated saliva) or through contact of the eye, nose, mouth, or skin with a patient’s blood. Health care personnel are at risk ...
Should postexposure treatment be started?
Immediately seek medical evaluation from a qualified health care professional1 because, in some cases, postexposure treatment may be recommended and should be started as soon as possible.
Workers Please Note
If you experienced a needlestick or sharps injury or were exposed to the blood or other body fluid of a patient during the course of your work, immediately follow these steps:
Medical Providers Please Note
If you have questions about appropriate medical treatment for occupational exposures, assistance is available from the Clinicians’ Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Line at 1-888-448-4911. http://www.nccc.ucsf.edu/ external icon
What to do if you have blood in a public place?
If you’ve had contact with blood or other bodily fluids in some sort of public venue, you need to report the incident to the management of the business or other types of establishments. There are legal reasons why you need to make this type of notification. If you become infected with some sort of virus or bacterium, the establishment where you had contact with blood or another type of bodily fluid may become responsible for the costs associated with your medical care. In addition, you will want to make sure that the public establishment addresses the presence of blood or other bodily fluids so that no one else is exposed to the biohazard.
What is the heart of being prepared for blood cleanup?
At the heart of being fully prepared is to ensure that you wear appropriate protective gear. This includes:
How do you get a bloodborne virus?
This can happen during the blood cleanup process, by sharing needles, and by any other activity that brings you into direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids.
What are bloodborne pathogens?
Bloodborne pathogens are hazardous microorganisms like viruses and bacteria that have the potential for causing disease and illness in human beings. Indeed, there are bloodborne pathogens that can cause chronic disease or permanent illness. There are bloodborne pathogens that can prove to be fatal. If you find yourself exposed to blood or bodily fluids that you believe may contain a dangerous pathogen, these are five steps you need to take in the aftermath of such exposure. Indeed, if you are exposed to blood or bodily fluids not your own, these steps should be followed. You must err on the side of caution when it comes to contact with another person’s blood or bodily fluids.
What to do if you think you have been exposed to a bloodborne pathogen?
The first step you must take when you think you’ve possibly been exposed to a bloodborne pathogen is to thoroughly wash any cut, abrasion, needlestick, or even exposed skin that has come into contact with blood, bodily fluids, or other biological matter.
What happens if you splash blood on your face?
If you’ve splashed blood or some other bodily fluid into your face – around your nose, eyes, or mouth – thoroughly flush the area with copious amounts of water. The mucous membranes associated with these parts of the body can be portals through which different types of viruses and bacteria may be able to enter a person’s body.
Do you have to report blood to supervisor?
If you make contact with blood or other bodily fluids in an employment setting, you need to report this exposure to a designated supervisor. If you end up ill as a result of an infection, you may need to pursue a worker’s compensation claim. The worker’s comp laws in California and across the country have a standard requirement that an injured worker reports an injury – including possible exposure to tainted blood – to his or her supervisor.
What is BBP in medical school?
To establish a clear set of directives in the event a student or faculty/staff member is exposed to a possible bloodborne pathogen (BBP) and to provide the proper precautions and steps to be carried out if exposure to any BBP occurs to any student or faculty/staff member .
What should a student do after a needle stick injury?
a. The student or faculty/staff member should take immediate action to clean the affected area following any needle stick, injury, or other incident that causes the student or faculty/staff member to be exposed to a source patient’s blood or other body fluid.
What are bloodborne pathogens?
Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms present in blood that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. Student and Health Care Providers (HCP) exposed to bloodborne pathogens are at risk for serious or life-threatening illnesses. All healthcare providers and students should use appropriate practices for handling and disposing of contaminated sharps or specimens. In the event an exposure does occur, the following should be followed.
Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids Or Substances
Exposures and Infection Control Protocols
Exposures – Immediate Action
Post-Exposure Management of The Source Individual
Management of The Exposed Person
- Immediate care of the exposure site
Contaminated clothing should be removed, and the injured area should be washed well with soap and water (an antiseptic could also be applied). Any affected mucous membranes should be flushed with large amounts of water. If the eyes are contaminated, they should be rinsed gently … - Evaluation of the exposure
The exposed person should be examined to confirm the nature of exposure and counselled about the possibility of transmission of bloodborne disease.
Summary: Management of Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids Or Substances