Evaluation Following Exposure to Human Blood/Body Fluids
Take the Following Steps After Exposure to Human Blood/Body Fluids
Needlesticks or cuts
Clean wound with soap and water immediately for two minutes.
Splashes
Flush mucous membranes with clean water.
For eye exposure: remove contacts if present and flush eyes using an eye wash station for a minimum of five minutes. If you are unsure where to find an eye wash station, start flushing with tap water or sterile eye irrigant immediately for five minutes while an eye wash station is located.
Notify your supervisor so they can assist with providing work coverage while the exposure is evaluated.
If post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment is needed, it should be started within two hours after the exposure.
If the source patient is known, have the source patient’s name and hospital number when calling for evaluation. Do not let the source patient leave until you speak to someone on the STICK line.
Go to Personal Tab – Benefits section, click “Workers Compensation – First Report of Injury” link, and follow the directions to complete the form.
Click “Submit” at the end of the form.
Click on Incident Reporting under Top Links on The Point homepage. Click on Report an Incident, then Employee Event.
If you have questions on how to find or complete it, please talk with your supervisor.
Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure
All employees and volunteers call the STICK line for evaluation by University Employee Health Clinic (UEHC).
All non-employees (such as visiting residents/fellows, agency, and students) are evaluated in the Emergency Department (ED).
If emergency treatment is needed, such as a laceration repair, the employee would be seen in the ED or by Occupational Health, but they still need to call the STICK line for the exposure.
A confidential medical evaluation is performed, which includes an evaluation of the exposure, counseling, post-exposure medication, baseline and post-exposure lab testing, immunizations/immunoglobulin, scheduled follow-up appointments, informing person of lab results. Certain forms must also be completed:
Employee must fill out the Workers Compensation – First Report of Injury Form – Available on Employee Self Service under the Benefits tab.
Employee and UEHC must complete a description of the incident at the UEHC, which is placed in their UEHC medical record.
Source identification and blood testing are performed if possible and results are shared with exposed employee. Consent for testing the source is performed by a member of the primary care physician team in accordance with hospital policy.
