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Needlestick 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
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.
- Call 911 or seek medical attention.
- For urgent care employees may go to HealthPartners Occupational and Environmental Medicine (M/F day time or Urgent care after hours), or UMMC-Fairview Hospital (24 hrs). You may seek medical attention at the closest available medical facility or your own healthcare provider.
- Follow-up must be done by HealthPartners Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
- Report the incident to your supervisor as soon as possible, fill out the appropriate documentation.
- Send Incident Report Form to the IBC if exposure has occurred during work on an IBC protocol.
- Report all biohazard exposures to the Office of Occupational Health and Safety (626-5008) or uohs@umn.edu.
Note: It is importantto fill out all of the appropriate documents to be eligible to collect workers compensation should any complications from the hazardous exposure arise in the future.
Additonal Information
There is no cost to the employee for medical services provided in these incidents
HealthPartners Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinics and Urgent Care, 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.