POSTEXPOSURE MEASURES AND FOLLOW-UP

Emergency Steps Following an Accidental Exposure

If an occupational exposure to blood or other body fluids occurs, the following steps should immediately be taken:

  1. Wash puncture and small wounds with soap and water for 15 minutes.
  2. Apply direct pressure to lacerations to control bleeding, and seek medical attention.
  3. Flush mucous membranes with water; rinse mouth several times with water.
  4. If eyes were exposed:
    • Remove contact lenses.
    • If eye wash station is available, flush eyes for 15 minutes.
    • If eye wash station is not available, have a peer flush exposed eyes with 500 ml lactated ringer’s solution or normal saline.
    • If unable to do the above, flush eyes under the sink with water for 15 minutes or as tolerated. Keep eyes open and rotate the eyeballs in all directions to remove contamination.
  5. Seek medical care to determine risk associated with exposure.
  6. Report blood and body fluid exposures immediately and as soon as possible to assist obtaining a test from the source.
    (CDC, 2019)

Employer Follow-Up

Following an exposure incident, the employer is required to:

  • Make immediately available to the exposed employee a confidential medical evaluation and follow-up, including at least the following:
    • Documentation of the route(s) of exposure and circumstances under which the exposure incident occurred
    • Identification and documentation of the source individual, unless the employer can establish that identification is not possible or prohibited by state or local law
  • Test the source individual’s blood as soon as possible and after consent is obtained.
  • Make the results of the source persons’ testing available to the exposed employee, and inform the employee of applicable laws and regulations concerning disclosure of the identity and infectious status of the source person.
  • Ensure that all medical evaluations, laboratory tests and procedures, and postexposure evaluation and follow-up, including prophylaxis, are made available at no cost and at a reasonable time and place to the employee.
  • Administer postexposure prophylaxis if medically necessary, as recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service.
  • Offer the healthcare worker counseling that includes recommendations for transmission and prevention of HIV.
  • Make available hepatitis B vaccinations to all workers with occupational exposures and postexposure and follow-up with all employees who have an exposure incident.
    (OSHA, 2019)