Post Exposure Prophylaxis

PURPOSE- This SOP defines the occupational exposure due to needle stick injury or infectious body fluid splashes, Dos and Donts for prevention, management of occupationl exposures and post exposure prophylaxis.

RESPONSIBILITY – Nidhi Sood

OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE AND POST-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS

• An “exposure” that may place a Health Care Provider (HCP) at risk of blood borne infection is defined as a percutaneous injury (e.g. needle-stick or cut with a sharp instrument), contact with the mucous membranes of the eye or mouth, contact with non-intact skin (particularly when the exposed skin is chapped, abraded, or afflicted with dermatitis), or contact with intact skin when the duration of contact is prolonged (e.g. several minutes or more) with blood or other potentially infectious body fluids.

Management of Exposure:

• In case of any accident or occupational exposure, lab Incharge is informed immediately and treated as emergency.
• If there is cut then hands are washed running water with soap.
• If there is splash of blood or any other fluid, then area is washed properly with water. Inform the lab in-charge and document in accident register.
• Lab in charge should inform the Medical officer, In-Charge, ART centre for appropriate actions.

Dr. Asha N Shah, Prof.& Head of the department of Medicine is contacted for clinical evaluation and treatment

• Risk of infection & transmission is evaluated by clinician and if necessary, prophylaxis is initiated by him.

DONTS:

Do not panic

Do not reflexively place pricked finger into mouth

Do not squeeze blood from wound, this causes trauma and inflammation, increasing risk of transmission

Do not use bleach, alcohol, betadine, or iodine, which may be caustic, also causing trauma

DOS:

Remove gloves, if appropriate

Wash site thoroughly with running water. Irrigate thoroughly with water or saline if splashes have gone into the eye or mouth.

REVIEW, RECORDS, REMARKS AND RECOMMENDATION: Accident register No. DR 21.

REFERENCE - Laboratory manual for Technicians, March 2007 of NACO