Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard: BLOODBORNE

Section 1-201(a) OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 12196: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likley to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to increased risk of undetected/treated HIV/HBV infection: a) Health care workers such as the nurses in medical unit were exposed to the hazard of being infected by HBV and/or HIV through possible direct contact with blood or other body fluids when responding to medical emergencies, and were not provided appropriate medical follow-up procedures. Feasible and useful abatement methods for reducing this hazard among others are: Implementation of follow-up procedures after possible exposure to HIV and/or HBV. If a health care worker has a precutaneous (needlestick or cut) or mucous membrane (splash to the eye, nasal mucous, or mouth) exposure to body fluids or has a cutaneous exposue to blood when teh worker's skin is chapped, abraded, or otherwise nonintact, the source patient shall be informed of the incident and tested for HIV infections, after consent is obtained. If patient consent is refused or if the source patient tests positive, the health care worker shall be evaluated clinically and by HIV antibody testing as soon as possible and advised to report and seek medical evaluation of any acute febrile illness that occurs within 12 weeks after exposure. HIV seronegative workers shall be retested 6 weeks post exposure and on a periodic basis thereafter (12 weeks and 6 months after exposure). Follow up procedures shall be taken for health care workers exposed or potentially exposed to HBV. The type of procedures depends on the immunization status of the worker (i.e., wheather HBV vaccination has been received and antibody response is adequate) and the HBV serologic status of the source patient. The Center for Disease Control Immunization practices Advisory Committee has published its recommendations regarding HBVpostexposure prophylaxis in thetable format in the June 17, 1985 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.