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Needlesticks and Other Infectious Exposure Procedures
If you or one of your employees is exposed to bloodborne or other infectious pathogens, by a needle-stick or other exposure, it is necessary to seek medical attention within 1-2 hours so that treatment is instituted within a timeframe that increases effectiveness.
- Types of Hazardous Exposures
- Emergency Procedure
- Additional Information
Types of Hazardous Exposures
Hazardous exposures include:
- Percutaneous innoculation/puncture with blood or body fluid by a sharp instrument or sharp needle
- Contact with blood or body fluid through fresh (less than 24 hours) cut or mucous membrane contact (e.g. splash to the eye or mouth, or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) or
- Skin exposure involving large amounts of blood or prolonged contact with blood, especially when the exposed skin is chapped, abraded or afflicted with dermatitis.
Emergency Procedure
- Administer first aid if necessary.
- Seek medical attention.
- If you are in the Twin Cities care area, DEHS suggests that you go to Boynton Health Service Urgent Care during Boynton's business hours. See Boynton's Web site for location and hours. This location is fully prepared to deal with these types of incidents.
- If it is after business hours, DEHS suggests you go to the Emergency Room at the Fairview University Medical Center. Boynton's Web site provides a map and directions to Fairview's ER. This location is fully prepared to deal with these types of incidents.
- If you are not in the Twin Cities area, or if you choose not to go to Boynton or Fairview, you may seek medical attention at the closest available medical facility. Most locations are prepared to deal with these types of incidents, or they can direct you to a facility that is.
- Report the incident to your supervisor as soon as it is possible, and fill out the appropriate paperwork. The University's Office of Risk Management and Insurance outlines An Employee's Responsibilities, and Supervisor Responsibilities on their Web site.
Note: It is important that all of the appropriate paperwork is filled out, otherwise you will not be able to collect workers compensation should any complications arise from the hazardous exposure in the future.
Additonal Information
There is no cost to the employee for medical services provided in these incidents.
Both Boynton Health Service at the University of Minnesota, and the Emergency Room at Fairview University Medical Center (if the exposure occurs after hours) stock the drugs currently recommended for treatment within 1-2 hours of accidental exposures to HIV.