Chapter 4: Infection prevention and control
Skip chapter table of contents and go to main content
Source: DH ([19]). © Crown copyright. Reproduced under the Open Government Licence v2.0.
Complications
In the event of an inoculation injury occurring, prompt and appropriate action will reduce the risk of subsequent infection. Relevant actions are described in Box 4.5 and should be taken regardless of what is thought to be known about the status of the patient whose blood has been inoculated. HIV, for example, has a 3‐month window following infection during which the patient has sufficient virus in their blood to be infectious but before their immune system is producing sufficient antibodies to be detected by the normal tests for HIV status.
Box 4.5
Actions to take in the event of inoculation injury
- Encourage any wound to bleed to wash out any foreign material that has been introduced. Do not squeeze the wound, as this may force any virus present into the tissues.
- Wash any wound with soap and water. Wash out splashes to mucous membranes (eyes or mouth) with large amounts of clean water.
- Cover any wound with a waterproof dressing to prevent entry of any other foreign material.
- Ensure the patient is safe then report the injury as quickly as possible to your immediate line manager and occupational health department. This is because post‐exposure prophylaxis, which is medication given after any incident thought to carry a high risk of HIV transmission, is more effective the sooner after the incident it is commenced (DH [31]).
- Follow any instructions given by the occupational health department.
- Co‐operate with any action to test yourself or the patient for infection with a blood‐borne virus but do not obtain blood or consent for testing from the patient yourself; this should be done by someone not involved in the incident.
- Complete a report of the incident according to local protocols.
Websites
AMR Local Indicators
Infection Prevention Society
Public Health England
World Health Organization: Infection Prevention and Control
