Occupational exposure to blood/body fluids and other potentially infectious materials should be reported immediately to Occupational Health.

What is classified as an occupational exposure to blood/body fluids?
What kinds of body fluids and materials are potentially infectious?
What should I do if I am exposed?
What should I do if I am exposed to the blood or body fluid from an animal source?
How should labs be ordered on the patient whose blood/body fluid caused the exposure?

What is classified as an occupational exposure to blood/body fluids?
An occupational exposure occurs when there is a puncture, scratch, laceration, splash, prolonged skin contact or contact with broken skin involving blood, body fluids, or other potentially infectious materials.

What kinds of body fluids and materials are potentially infectious?
Body fluids of concern include: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, and other body fluids visibly contaminated with blood. Any unfixed tissue or organ from a human is potentially infectious as are cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures, and culture medium or other solutions from experimental animals infected with HIV or hepatitis B.

What should I do if I am exposed?
If you are exposed to someone's blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials -- DO NOT IGNORE THIS EXPOSURE!!

Here are the steps you should take:

1. Take appropriate first aid measures (clean wound with soap and water; flush mucous membranes with water/saline for 15 minutes)
2. Get the name and medical record number of the person who is the source of your exposure
3. Notify your supervisor so he/she can complete the Tennessee First Report of Injury and mail it to Risk Management within 48 hours
4. Report, in person, to the Occupational Health Clinic (640 Medical Arts Building). If off campus, call OHC for guidelines
5. If the exposure occurs from 5:30 pm to 7:30 am, weekends, or holidays report to the Emergency Room.

NOTE: You will still need to contact Occupational Health on the next business day to ensure proper documentation and follow-up if you are seen in the Emergency Department.

REMEMBER: If indicated, post exposure prophylaxis should be initiated as soon as possible (preferably within 1-2 hours after exposure but up to 24 hours after the exposure).

What should I do if I am exposed to the blood or body fluid from an animal source?
Animal care workers are at risk for rabies, herpes B virus, Q-fever, and other zoonotic infections. All faculty/staff who are exposed should report to the Occupational Health Clinic.

How should labs be ordered on the patient whose blood/body fluid caused the exposure?

Click here to view the presentation Blood and Body Fluid Exposures: Source patient testing in WizOrder and exposure reporting for instructions on ordering source patient labs.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:

All phone numbers are in area code 615 unless otherwise noted.

HELPFUL LINKS

• OSHA
• OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standards
• What Every Health Care Worker Should Know--How to Protect Yourself From Needlestick Injuries
• Blood and Body Fluid Exposures: Source patient testing in WizOrder and exposure reporting