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Medical Health Administration

Bloodborne Pathogens & Other Infectious Exposures

Exposure Reporting - Report within 1-2 hours of exposure to:
Hospital Based Non-Hospital Based

TGH. VA, Moffit, ACH, etc.

USF and TGMG Clinics, Coroner's Office, etc.

Regular Business Hours
8 AM - 5 PM

Contact Hospital's
Employee Health Department

Contact Medical Health Administration
(813) 974-3163

After Hours
5 PM - 8 AM
(Weekends & Holidays)

Contact Hospital's
Nursing Supervisor or
Emergency Room
(as directed)

Contact Infectious Disease
Exposure Fellow "Expert Consultation"
on call after hours
(813) 821-8038

Reduce the Risk

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.

Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure - Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV

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

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Exposure

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.

Meningococcal Meningitis Exposure

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.

Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV or Chicken Pox) Exposure

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).

Pertussis Exposure

Isolation: Use Droplet Precautions.

Exposure definition:

  • Susceptible healthcare worker with close, face to face contact with a person who has a clinical syndrome highly suggestive of Pertussis.

Immediate action:

  • Report to Employee Health Services

Exposure Contacts at USF & USF Affiliates - Employee Health Services (EHS)

    • Contact: (727) 767-4190
    • *After hours: Page evening/night nursing supervisor
    • Contact: Employee Health Coordinator (727) 734-6850 - Contact the Administrator on Duty (AOD)
    • *After hours: Go to Emergency Room
    • Contact: Occupational Health (727) 398-6661 x14225
    • *After hours: Go to emergency room
    • Contact: "On site" student event coordinator, medical supervisor, and USF ID Fellow "on call" (813) 821-8038
    • Contact: (813) 307-8015 x6402 or (813) 307-8015 x3103
    • Contact: Employee Health (813) 745-4276
    • *After 4:30pm page evening/night nursing coordinator
    • Contact: Occupational Health (813) 972-2000 x7628
    • *After hours: Go to emergency room
    • Contact: (727) 734-6850 - Contact the Administrator on Duty (AOD)
    • *After hours: Go to Emergency Room
    • Contact: (727) 734-6850
    • *After hours: Go to emergency room / Contact the Administrator on Duty (AOD)
    • Contact: (813) 974-3163
    • After hours: Contact ID Fellow on call
    • Contact: Employee Health (813) 844-7649
    • *After hours: Page evening/night nursing supervisor
      • Genesis
      • Health Park
      • Specialty Clinic
      • Medical Examiners Office
      • Hyde Park Medical Building
    • Contact: Occupational Health (813) 615-7948
    • *After hours: Contact Nursing Supervisor
    • Contact: Medical Health Administration (MHA) (813) 974-3163
    • *After hours: Call USF ID Fellow "on call" (813) 821-8038
    • Contact: Medical Health Administration (813) 974-3163
      • USF Medical Clinic
      • USF Morsani Center
      • USF South Tampa Center
      • All other outpatient sites
      • USF Health Laboratories
    • Call USF ID Fellow "on call" (813) 821-8038

Remember: Site of injury is responsible for initial exposure management