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PEP Quick Guide for Occupational Exposures

What is considered to be a potential exposure to HIV, HBV or HCV?

For transmission of blood borne pathogens (HIV, HBV and HCV) to occur, an exposure must include both of the following:

• Infectious body fluid
Blood, semen, vaginal fluids, amniotic fluids, breast milk, cerebrospinal fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, pleural fluid and synovial flood can transmit HIV, HBV and HCV.
• Note that saliva, vomitus, urine, feces, sweat, tears and respiratory secretions do not transmit HIV (unless…

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  CDC

Management and Treatment Guidelines.

Previously Featured

Exposed

Work-acquired infectious diseases are among the risks all healthcare workers face; and bloodborne pathogens figure prominently among these. Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids is well documented among healthcare workers. Annual exposure prevalence rates range from 1,500 nurses employed on 40 units in 20 hospitals, poor organizational climate and high workloads were associated with 50% to 200% increases in the likelihood of needlestick injuries and near-misses among hospital nurses." www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3328993/

Healthcare workers' perceptions of occupational exposure to blood-borne viruses and reporting barriers: a questionnaire-based study

This study identified a need to improve HCWs' knowledge of BBV infection risks and their management. Data gathered in this study will be used to inform the development of a web-based system for the surveillance of occupational exposures to BBV in the UK.

Safe Doctors, Unsafe Patients: A Tale of Two Infections

Call it a tale of two infections. It’s the story of how hospitals have blocked transmission of a dangerous infection that patients can give doctors, while a hospital-caused infection that can kill patients continues to be widely tolerated. It involves saved lives and endangered ones ­– and also of billions of dollars spent needlessly due to unsafe care.

Staff Infections: What to Do When Exposed in the ER

Six pathogen threats in emergency medicine and appropriate prophylaxis.

The First Documented Case of Zika Spread by Physical Contact

It appears the virus was spread through the tears or sweat of a patient with a particularly severe infection.

What Should I Do If I Get a Needlestick?

For all bloodborne pathogens, a needlestick injury carries a greater risk for transmission than other occupational exposures (e.g. mucous membrane exposure). If a needlestick injury occurs in the setting of an infected patient source, the risk of disease transmission varies for HIV, HBV, and HCV (see Table 3, p. 19). In general, risk for seroconversion is increased with a deep injury, an injury with a device visibly contaminated with the source patient’s blood, or an injury involving a needle placed in the source patient’s artery or vein.

Resources

Federal Bureau of Prisons

These guidelines provide specific recommendations for medically managing BOP inmates who have experienced potential exposures to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) through various means, including human bites and sexual assaults.

University of Michigan

To provide a standard of care for evaluation and treatment of occupational exposures to Bloodborne Pathogens.

University of Washington

Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV.

Vic.gov

Exposures include sharps injuries (including needlestick) and splashes into or onto mucous membranes or non-intact skin. Occupational hazards for healthcare workers from sharps injuries (including needlestick injury), and other blood or body fluid incidents include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV).

WHO

Guidelines for the Management of Occupational Exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and Recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis