To minimise the risk of spread of infection, all blood and body substances should be treated as potentially infectious. The techniques used in handling these substances are known as standard precautions. Standard precautions are recommended in the handling of: Standard precautions are good hygiene practices relating to hand hygiene, the use of gloves and other protective clothing (as appropriate), and the safe disposal of waste. If any person has contact with blood or body fluids, the following procedures should be observed: Incidents occurring during or
after work hours should be reported immediately to: If a person thinks he or she has been exposed to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B, for further information he or she can: If a potential HIV or hepatitis B exposure occurs in the workplace, the PEP assessment should be provided through the work, health and safety procedures for the workplace. PEP may:Standard precautions
Managing exposure to blood or other body substances
Reporting mechanisms
Potential blood borne virus exposure
Post Exposure Prophylaxis
- prevent the development of infection
- make the infection less severe
- reduce the risk of the infection being passed on to other people.
PEP needs to begin as soon as possible after exposure to be effective.
PEP for hepatitis B consists of:
- immunoglobulin (a solution containing human antibodies that is made from blood products) and
- three hepatitis B vaccinations over 6 months
PEP for HIV consists of a 28 day course of medication (anti-retroviral).
Surface cleaning of blood and body substances
If blood or body fluids are spilled on surfaces, the following cleaning procedures should be used:
- Deal with the spill as soon as possible.
- Protect yourself by wearing disposable rubber gloves. Eye protection and a plastic apron should be worn where there is a risk of splashing.
- Remove as much of the spill as possible with a paper towel.
- Clean area with warm water and detergent, using a disposable cleaning cloth or sponge.
- The area should be left clean and dry.
- Disinfect the area with a solution of household bleach, diluted according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Remove and dispose of gloves, paper towel and cleaning cloth in a sealed plastic bag after use. The plastic bag may then be thrown away with household waste.
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Useful links
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- HIV infection
- Hand hygiene
Being exposed to sharps (needles and other sharp medical instruments) or body fluids means that another person's blood or other body fluid touches your body. Exposure may occur after a needlestick or sharps injury. It can also occur when blood or other body fluid touches your skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucosal surface.
Exposure can put you at risk for infection.
After a needlestick or cut exposure, wash the area with soap and water. For a splash exposure to the nose, mouth, or skin, flush with water. If exposure occurs to the eyes, irrigate with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigant.
Report the exposure right away to your supervisor or the person in charge. Do not decide on your own whether you need more care.
Your workplace will have a policy about what steps you should take after being exposed. Often, there is a nurse or another health care provider who is the expert on what to do. You will likely need lab tests, medicine, or a vaccine right away. Do not delay telling someone after you have been exposed.
You will need to report:
- How the needlestick or fluid exposure occurred
- What type of needle or instrument you were exposed to
- What fluid you were exposed to (such as blood, stool, saliva, or other body fluid)
- How long the fluid was on your body
- How much fluid there was
- Whether there was blood from the person visible on the needle or instrument
- Whether any blood or fluid was injected into you
- Whether the fluid touched an open area on your skin
- Where on your body the exposure was (such as skin, mucous membrane, eyes, mouth, or somewhere else)
- Whether the person has hepatitis, HIV, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
After exposure, there is a risk you may become infected with germs. These may include:
- Hepatitis B or C virus (causes liver infection)
- HIV, the virus that causes AIDS
- Bacteria, such as staph
Most of the time, the risk of becoming infected after exposure is low. But you need to report any exposure right away. Do not wait.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Sharps safety for healthcare settings. www.cdc.gov/sharpssafety/resources.html. Updated February 11, 2015. Accessed December 22, 2021.
Riddell A, Kennedy I, Tong CY. Management of sharps injuries in the healthcare setting. BMJ. 2015;351:h3733. PMID: 26223519 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26223519/.
Janssen HLA, Fung S. Hepatitis B. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 79.
Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.