CLINICAL LAB SCIENEC

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ESSENTIALS OF CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE
membranes are involved, one should go either to a physician in the emergency
department or to his or her private physician. The educational institution or
medical facility is responsible for charges incurred when exposure occurs during
duties related to the medical program in which a student is enrolled. Incident
reports are initiated at the clinical site and must be supervised by a physician.
Postexposure Treatment for Exposure to Blood or OPIM
Follow-up actions with a physical evaluation and counseling should be immediately
initiated. When an exposure is determined by investigation to have
occurred, an exposure incident evaluation and follow-up report form should be
completed. These forms should be available in all departments, and additional
forms may be obtained from the infection control officer . Counseling should be
scheduled for those who have been exposed to infectious materials to determine
the status of the individual and the reasons for the exposure. The infection control
representative should make a report for discussion with the entire committee
to determine if any policies were violated or if there was actually a policy that
could have prevented the incident. An incident may precipitate the implementation
of new policies or revisions of existing policies.
An accidental exposure to the blood of a suspected or confirmed case of
hepatitis B should be followed by administration of gamma globulin within a
few hours of the incident if possible . Gamma globulin is the portion of blood
called serum that contains specific antibodies against certain organisms. If gammaglobulin
is administered no later than 7 days following exposure, it is often
effective in preventing infection from occurring. This is also true for a number of
other organisms. Therefore, if an exposure to any potentially hazardous organism
occurs, it is prudent to seek medical advice so quick treatment may be provided
when indicated.
The health care employee, faculty member, or student is deemed to have
experienced an exposure to possible harmful pathogens if there is a skin break,
a dirty needle stick , a cut or puncture by contaminated glass or a broken object,
or a splash into mucous membranes such as the eye, nasal mucosa, or mouth.
A cutaneous (skin) exposure due to chapped, abraded, or other nonintact skin
should also be reported as an exposure incident to the medical facility departmental
supervisor and the educational institution’s infection control officer or
coordinator .
Documentation of Exposure Incident
Following the report of an occupational exposure incident, the medical worker,
faculty member, or student is required to complete an accident/incident report,
available from the infection control coordinator . The forms to be completed are
organized in such a way that a supervisory employee will be able to complete all
steps necessary immediately following the exposure if the incident occurs during
the evening, night, or weekend hours when the infection control coordinator or
a designee is not on site. The records related to preexisting conditions and any
immunizations, as well as immune status, will be gathered from the exposed person’s
records on file as required. This will ensure that all appropriate steps are
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