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BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
POST-EXPOSURE EVALUATION, CARE, AND FOLLOW-UP

MID MICHIGAN COLLEGE - HEALTH SCIENCES DIVISION

If a Mid Michigan College student or employee is involved in an incident where exposure to bloodborne pathogens may have occurred, there are two things that we immediately focus our efforts on:

  • Making sure that this person receives medical consultation and treatment (if required) as expeditiously as possible
  • Investigating the circumstances surrounding the exposure incident

EXPOSURE INCIDENT:

Accidents in which blood, blood-contaminated body fluid or tissue to which universal precautions apply are introduced into the eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, or into non-intact skin via a needlestick, skin cut or direct splash which result in the laboratory setting.

Exposure incidents can result in serious nosocomial disease, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. It is essential that standards are defined which assure prompt identification of the person prompt intervention with appropriate prophylaxis, education, and treatment. Any individual who sustains an exposure incident will proceed as indicated in the following guidelines:

STEP 1: Wash the exposed area immediately

STEP 2: Inform his/her instructor/supervisor of the incident

STEP 3: Report to the healthcare provider of choice

STEP 4: Exposed person is responsible for cost of care

STEP 5: The Safety Officer or designee will investigate every exposure incident that occurs in our facilities. This investigation is initiated within 24 hours after the incident occurs and includes the following information:

  1. When the incident occurred
    • Date and time
  2. Where the incident occurred
    • Location within the facility
  3. What potentially infectious materials were involved in the incident
    • Type of material (blood, urine, etc)
  4. Source of material
  5. Under what circumstances the incident occurred
  6. How the incident was caused
    • Accident
    • Unusual circumstances (e.g., equipment malfunction).
  7. Personal protective equipment being used at the time of the incident
  8. Actions taken as a result of the incident
    • Care of injury
    • Cleanup
    • Notifications made

STEP 6: Follow up procedures

  1. The exposed individual will provide the College with written documentation from the selected health care provider
    • Healthcare provider name
    • Date of visit
    • If HIV/HBV education was provided if needed (Michigan Department of Public Health guidelines attached)

Much of the information involved in this process must remain confidential, and we will do everything possible to protect the privacy of the people involved.