3 hours ago Terms in this set (43) Health care workers are at risk for occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens including .. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) , hepatitis C (HCV) , and Human Immuniodeficiency virus (HIV) Exposures occur through. Needle sticks or cuts from other sharp instruments contaminated with an infected patients blood or through contact ... >> Go To The Portal
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...
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 for occupational exposure...
The facility, which is legally responsible for follow-up care when you report an occupational exposure to blood or other substances that may transmit a disease to you. However, you, the employee, should adhere to the following up activities and be pro-active about making sure you receive any support you need.
A patient's food - or anything else that enters a patient's room or area - is considered contaminated. Visitors and staff can also be reservoirs. If visitors and staff are sick, they should not come to the hospital.
When you report an occupational exposure to a patient's blood, who is/are responsible for making sure you receive appropriate follow-up? Your facility - Your facility is legally responsible for follow-up care when you report an occupational exposure to blood or other substances that may transmit a disease to you.
OSHA's final rule for Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens [29 CFR 1910.1030(f)] requires the dental employer to make immediately available confidential medical evaluation and follow-up to an employee reporting an exposure incident.
Wash the exposed area thoroughly with soap and running water. Use non-abrasive, antibacterial soap if possible. If blood is splashed in the eye or mucous membrane, flush the affected area with running water for at least 15 minutes.
A healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is an infection that develops during, or soon after, receiving healthcare services or being in a healthcare setting. These settings include hospitals, clinics, doctor's offices, surgery centers, nursing homes, or home-care visits by a health professional.
Wash exposed skin, cuts, and needlestick injuries thoroughly with soap and water. If you have been splashed by potentially infectious fluids around the eyes, nose or mouth, flush the area with water. Immediately report the incident to emergency medical services.
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.
What is usually the first action in the event of an exposure incident? The person to notify in the event of an exposure incident is always the direct supervisor. Employees exposed to blood or OPIM are asked to consider several things when deciding to take post-exposure preventative medications.
If you are exposed, take the following steps immediately:Clean the contaminated area thoroughly with soap and water. ... Flush out any splashes of blood and OPIM to the mouth and nose with water.If the eyes are involved, irrigate with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigants for 20 minutes.More items...
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.
For a HAI, the infection must occur: up to 48 hours after hospital admission. up to 3 days after discharge. up to 30 days after an operation.
What types of HCAIs are most common? The most commonly reported HCAIs are: urinary tract infections, wound infections (following surgery), skin infections and infections that cause vomiting and/or diarrhoea.
Nosocomial infections also referred to as healthcare-associated infections (HAI), are infection(s) acquired during the process of receiving health care that was not present during the time of admission.
An infection that develops in the hospital or after medical treatment. Typically develops within 2 days after initial contact with the healthcare system. Bacteria and viruses are the most common cause of HAI. Fungi also cause HAI, but it is less common.
Other reservoirs include dust, aerosols, and medical equipment.
Where the pathogen lives or its source. A reservoir can be an infected person, food, water, an animal, or dirt.
Low-level disinfection is used to kill most pathogens, but not resistant microorganisms such as bacterial spores and tubercle bacilli, on low-risk and moderate-risk items. It is generally achieved by soaking items in a chemical solution for a given period of time. Safe to contact with skin.
Another reason is that people are coming to the hospital sicker, which puts them at a greater risk for infection. Community-acquired infections (CAIs) When patients come to the hospital with infections. Reservoir. Where the pathogen lives or its source.
Visitors and staff can also be reservoirs. If visitors and staff are sick, they should not come to the hospital. A used glove is considered contaminated: Touching anything else with the glove can transfer the infection to that second object. Other reservoirs include dust, aerosols, and medical equipment.
A mask, protective eyewear, and a gown must be worn if there is a possibility of splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids. *This is true regardless of the patient's infection status.
However, for those exposures without risk of HIV infection, PEP is not recommended because the drugs used to prevent infection may have serious side effects.
Prompt reporting is essential because, in some cases, postexposure treatment may be recommended and it should be started as soon as possible.
The annual number of occupational infections has decreased 95% since hepatitis B vaccine became available in 1982, from >10,000 in 1983 to <400 in 2001 (CDC, unpublished data).
However, studies have shown that 1% of hospital healthcare personnel have evidence of HCV infection (about 3% of the U.S. population has evidence of infection). The number of these workers who may have been infected through an occupational exposure is unknown.
These recommendations are intended to provide guidance to clinicians and may be modified on a case-by-case basis.
There is no postexposure treatment that will prevent HCV infection.
Whenever possible, consulting an expert with experience in the use of antiviral drugs is advised, especially if a recommended drug is not available, if the source patient's virus is likely to be resistant to one or more recommended drugs, or if the drugs are poorly tolerated.
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 ...
Many needlesticks and other cuts can be prevented by using engineering controls (for example, disposing of used needles in appropriate sharps disposal containers and using medical devices with safety features designed to prevent injuries) and safer techniques (for example, not recapping needles by hand). Exposures to the eyes, nose, mouth, and skin ...
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, ...
Health care professionals caring for exposed health care workers can call the National Clinicians’ Post-exposure Prophylaxis Hotline (PEPline) for advice on managing occupational exposures to HIV and hepatitis B and C viruses. PEPline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-888-448-4911.
Wash the site of the needlestick or cut with soap and water.
Familiar with the unique nature of dental injuries so they can provide appropriate guidance on the need for antiretroviral prophylaxis.
A qualified health care professional is any health care provider who can provide counseling and perform all medical evaluations and procedures in accordance with the most current recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service, including providing postexposure chemotherapeutic prophylaxis when indicated .
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:
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