Student Handbook - College of Medicine - Florida Atlantic University

N L H F E D C Arecommendations for expert panel oversight). Chronically infected HBV-infected health-care providers and studentsare NOT required to: 1) repeatedly demonstrate non-detectable HBV viral loads on a greater than semiannualfrequency; 2) prenotify patients of his/her HBV-infection status; or 3) submit to mandatory antiviral therapy. StandardPrecautions should be adhered to rigorously in all health care settings for the protection of both patient and provider.Education and TrainingAll students initially receive general information pertaining to the prevention and transmission of occupationalexposures during the orientation to the College of Medicine. During this time, students will be required to receiveimmunizations against hepatitis B, meningitis & varicella, and tuberculosis screening if not documented on the historyand physical exam form submitted prior to registration. More formal clinical information about the prevention andpathophysiology of all infectious diseases that might potentially be transmitted in a clinical care setting is providedprior to the start of clinical clerkships. This would include education regarding hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C,varicella, influenza, meningitis, tuberculosis, and HIV.Students will be provided with education on universal blood and body fluid precautions during orientation sessions forfirst year students, and prior to the start of the clinical clerkships. Students will also receive information on infectioncontrol and prevention of the spread of communicable disease. During the first day students are assigned to work ata clinical rotation site, the faculty at the affiliate site will provide information regarding the policies and procedures attheir respective site that students must follow in the event of exposure, as described below in “Needlestick Injury andOther Potential Blood-borne Pathogen Exposure”. All students are required to complete training in OSHAand HIPAA:OSHA: http://med.fau.edu/faculty_staff/training.phpStudents are required to complete two modules: Blood Borne Pathogens and Formaldehyde Use. Successfulcompletion of these modules is monitored via the website by the Office of Student Affairs. No paper documentation isrequired.HIPAA:HIPAA training is given during the week of Orientation for first year medical students. Additional HIPAA training isprovided during orientation to the third year of medical school.Standard PrecautionsInfection control policies are established for the surveillance, prevention, and control of infection caused by a varietyof microorganisms. These guidelines include definitions, symptoms, mode of transmission, as well as prevention andcontrol information. Blood, semen, and vaginal fluids are the three most potentially infectious body fluids but otherbody fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, and unfixedbody tissues should be considered potentially infectious, especially if contaminated with blood. Universal precautionsshould always be followed, even when handling fluids and tissues that are not normally infectious such as saliva,feces, urine, sweat, sputum, vomitus, and tears; it should be noted that these body fluids carry a greater risk ofinfection if contaminated with visible blood, which can result from an accidental occurrence or complication of patientcontact and procedures.Students are required to follow appropriate infection control procedures, including the use of personal protectiveequipment, whenever there is a risk of parenteral, cutaneous, or mucous membrane exposure to blood, body fluids,or aerosolized secretions from any patient, irrespective of the perceived risk of a blood borne or airborne pathogen.Regardless of the real or perceived communicable disease status of the patient, all students and staff should followstandard universal precautions when providing patient care. The basic precautions include:Always wash hands before and after patient contact, according to the policy of the clinical site, even if glovesare used.37