Healthcare Worker's Requirements to Reduce the Risk of Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure

The following safeguards are mandated by law:

• Use Standard Precautions for the care of all patients in all settings.
• Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when there is a possibility of exposure to blood or body fluids.
  • Gloves
  • Water-resistant gowns/aprons
  • Protective eyewear
  • Masks
• Use of "Safer Sharps" whenever possible.
• Disposal of sharps in labeled, puncture resistant containers.
• Hepatitis B vaccination.
• File an incident report post exposure.
• Follow clinical site's post exposure prophylaxis protocol.

Transmission: Blood, blood products, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk, and any body fluid visibly contaminated with blood. Use Standard Precautions.

Exposure definition:

• Exposure via needlestick/sharp to blood, tissues, or infectious body fluids
• Exposure of mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) to blood, tissues, or infectious body fluids
• Exposure of non-intact skin (chapped, abraded, weeping, inflamed, open lesions, lacerations) to blood, tissues, or infectious body fluids

Immediate action:

If exposure occurs in an acute care facility (hospital-based)

• Express blood from wound
• Cleanse wound with soap and water; flush mucous membranes with water
• Notify supervisor immediately
• Report to clinical site's Employee Health Services
  
  • After hours: Report to nursing supervisor "on call" or emergency room

If exposure occurs in an outpatient facility

• Express blood from wound
• Cleanse wound with soap and water; flush mucous membranes with water
• Ask "source patient" to remain in clinic for possible lab testing (consent must be signed)
• Notify supervisor immediately
• Report to USF Medical Health Administration (Division of Infectious Disease)
  • Call Employee Health 813-974-3163 or page 813-216-0153
  • After hours: ID Fellow "on call" 813-974-2201

Isolation: Use Airborne Precautions.

Exposure definition:

• Airborne exposure to a person who is sputum smear positive for Acid Fast Bacilli and/or sputum culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Immediate action:

• Report to Employee Health Services.

Isolation: Use Droplet Precautions.

Exposure definition:

• Intensive, direct contact with respiratory secretions.
• Mouth to mouth resuscitation
• Prolonged, direct care for > 4 hours within enclosed area

Immediate action:

• Report to Employee Health Services.

Isolation: Use Airborne Precautions and Contact Precautions.

Exposure definition:

A susceptible healthcare worker in the same room as person who is incubating varicella or has varicella lesions that are not crusted. You are considered susceptible (non-immune) if you have:

• Negative history of varicella vaccine x2 or
• Negative varicella titer

Immediate action:

• Report to Employee Health Services (see list).