What should I do after blood exposure?
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I just had an exposure to blood and/or body fluid from a splash or sharps injury... now what? If you scratched or punctured your skin with a used needle or instrument, or have come into contact with blood and/or body fluids to your non-intact skin or mucous membrane, immediately:
What are the risks of a blood or body fluid exposure? When employees are exposed to blood or body fluids, there is a risk of transmission of blood borne pathogens (HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C). For transmission to occur, an exposure must include both:
Please note that feces, nasal secretions, sputum, sweat, tears, urine and vomit do not transmit HIV, HBV, or HCV unless there is visible blood. If unsure, call the Provincial Workplace Health Contact Centre and speak to a Communicable Disease Exposure Management Nurse. For more information, please see the BCCDC—Table 1. Fluids capable of transmitting bloodborne pathogens. Topic OverviewWhat are blood and body fluid precautions?Blood and body fluid precautions are recommendations designed to prevent the transmission of HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and other diseases while giving first aid or other health care that includes contact with body fluids or blood. These precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious for diseases that are transmitted in the blood. The organisms spreading these diseases are called blood-borne pathogens. Blood and body fluid precautions apply to blood and other body fluids that contain visible traces of blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. They also apply to tissues and other body fluids, such as from around the brain or spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid), around a joint space (synovial fluid), in the lungs (pleural fluid), in the lining of the belly and pelvis (peritoneal fluid), around the heart (pericardial fluid), and amniotic fluid that surrounds a fetus. Why are blood and body fluid precautions important?Although skin provides some protection from exposure to potentially infectious substances, it is strongly recommended that health professionals use blood and body fluid precautions for further protection when they are providing health care. These precautions also help protect you from exposure to a potential infection from your health professional in the unlikely event that you come in contact with the health professional's blood. It is recommended that everyone use blood and body fluid precautions when giving first aid. Are blood and body fluid precautions always needed?The best practice is to always use blood and body fluid precautions, even when you can't see any blood and there's no chance that blood is present. But the precautions aren't absolutely needed if you don't see any blood when you come in contact with other body fluids, such as:
How can you reduce your risk of exposure to blood and body fluids?Blood and body fluid precautions involve the use of protective barriers such as gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection. These reduce the risk of exposing the skin or mucous membranes to potentially infectious fluids. Health care workers should always use protective barriers to protect themselves from exposure to another person's blood or body fluids.
How else can I reduce my risk?It is recommended that everyone use blood and body fluid precautions while giving first aid. You may wish to have gloves available in your home, office, or vehicle if you think you may be required to help another person in an emergency. Other precautions can help you minimize your risk of exposure to contaminated blood and body fluids.
Learn first aid and CPR, so when you are faced with an emergency or injury, you will know what to do. What should I do if I am exposed?
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Credits Current as of: Author: Healthwise Staff What happens if you are exposed to blood?Blood may contain microbes that give you infections. These include blood-borne viruses, like Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. Risk of a viral infection through exposure depends on how much blood you were exposed to, how much virus was in the blood, and how deep the blood penetrated your tissues.
What three tests are required after exposure to blood?Baseline Testing of the Exposed HCW
The exposed HCW must be offered baseline HIV antigen/antibody, HBV surface antigen and surface antibody testing and HCV antibody blood testing as soon as possible.
How long do you have to report blood exposure?highly suspected patient, report your exposure immediately (within 2 hours) to Employee Health. Any other exposures to blood and body fluids must be reported within 24 hours.
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