Hello,

Currently, organizations follow a set protocol when handling blood and body fluid exposures, particularly regarding HIV exposures. If a source patient's HIV test results are not available before the Employee Health Clinic closes, the standard practice is to assess the employee's risk. 

1. If the exposure is deemed high risk, the clinician will initiate HIV PEP right away, rather than waiting for test results. This PEP can be started as long as it's within {72 hours} post-exposure.
  
2. A clinician typically does stay on-call for results (or I send an employee home with a short supply of PEP), especially if there's a possibility of requiring immediate action. If results are received later in the evening indicating a positive status, the employee can usually obtain HIV PEP from our emergency department or an available on-call pharmacist. 

This approach ensures timely care while considering the critical time frame for initiating PEP treatment.

Best,  
Efia

On Tue, Dec 10, 2024 at 9:00 PM Hayden, Jamie R <JHayden@uwhealth.org> wrote:

Hello,

 

I am interested in understanding what other organizations do for blood and body fluid exposures for if/when a source patient’s HIV test results are not back before the Employee Health Clinic closes. Does a clinician follow up the next business day since HIV PEP can be initiated within 72 hours of exposure? Do you start the employee on HIV PEP until the results are received?

 

Or does a clinician stay on-call to receive those results later in the evening and follows up with the employee once the results are received? If this is the case and the employee requires HIV PEP due to a positive HIV test result, where does the individual present to obtain the medications?

 

Any information would be much appreciated!

 

Thank you,

Jamie

 

Jamie Hayden RN, BSN
she/her/hers – What are personal pronouns?
Lead RN
Employee Health Services
700 University Bay Drive Suite 101

Madison, WI 53705
Office: (608) 263-7535
jhayden@uwhealth.org

 

---------------------------------------
The MCOH-EH List has always been moderated by members of the ACOEM Medical Center Occupational Health Section. It is currently moderated by Joe Fanucchi MD FACOEM.
List membership is free, but only subscribers may post to the list.
To post send messages to: mcoh-eh@mylist.net
To become a subscriber, or to change your subscription options (turn off email while you're on vacation, etc):   http://www.mcoh-eh.net
MediTrax / Occupational Health Systems, Inc. provides financial support to ensure the list remains a free resource for the occupational health community.
---------------------------------------
List archives (public): http://mylist.net/archives/mcoh-eh/
---------------------------------------
Send administrative requests to: drjoe@meditrax.com
---------------------------------------
When replying to a message, PLEASE delete all footers, and all messages to which you're NOT replying.