The source patient is evaluated as you mentioned.  The Healthcare Worker comes to Employee Health for evaluation/counseling-- or the Nursing Supervisor /ED if after hours.  Hep B Surface Antibody  (if we don’t already know it is positive), HCV and HIV (not rapid) are ordered on all exposures so we know what the HCW’s baseline is at the time of exposure. 

 

 

 

I am reviewing our policy for the management of a needlestick or blood body fluid evaluation.

 

My understanding is the standard of practice in 2015 is to test a source patient with a Rapid HIV test, HepBsAg and HepCAb tests.

 

My question for the group is what is the standard of practice of management of the exposed individual.  Obviously, counseling about risks and proper needle handling should be performed.

 

Do you require that the exposed individual come into the Employee Health clinic for face to face counseling or do you handle that by phone?

Do you test the exposed individual for HIV, HepBsAb and HepC for any exposure, or only if there is a specific reason to do so (such as the source patient is HIV +)?

 

Stephen Wintermeyer, MD, MPH
Director
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine

 

Campus Health
Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Coleman Hall, Suite 100
1140 West Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN  46202
317-274-8214