LA symposium Flashcards
what are sharps
- sharps are needles, blades and other medical instruments that are necessary for carrying out work and could cause an injury by cutting or pricking the skin
what are some sharps routinely used in dentistry
- hand scalers
- ultrasonic scalers
- burrs
- probes
- scalpel
- needles
who’s responsibility is it to dispose of sharps
- it is the responsibility of the person using the sharp to dispose of it correctly and safely
- can delegate someone to take care of your sharps but if they get injured it is your responsibility
what do the health and safety regulations 2013 require in relation to sharps
- they apply to employers and contractors working in the healthcare sector
- requires effective arrangement in place for the safe use and disposal of medical sharps = avoid unnecessary use, safer sharps where reasonable practicable
- requires information and training to workers
- requires investigation and action taken in response to sharps injuries
what do the different colour lids of bins show
- these identify the waste streams
- it is essential that the correct waste stream is used
how should the sharps bin be used
- the temporary closure mechanism should be closed when the container is not in use
- the lid should be firmly closed in place
- do not fill above the line = container should be closed once line is reached
- all details should be completed when the container is assembled and prior to disposal
what goes in the blue lidded sharps container
- sharps that still have medicine left in the syringe/ampoule
what goes in the orange lidded sharps container
- sharps that do not have any medicine left in the syringe/ampoule
is the medical history important for sharps injuries
- you want to have the medical history of the patient available but you can’t guarantee that is is all true
- need to do blood tests anyway
what is ARC
- response to sharps injury
- A = are you injured
- R = remove your gloves
- C = check the area carefully
what must you do if you think you have sustained a sharps injury
- stop what you are doing
- take off your gloves
- get supervising clinical immediately and explain the situation
- investigate the ‘injury’ site, confirm there is NO injury before commencing with treatment
- dispose of used sharp and begin again with new sharp
what form must be filled out if you sustain a sharps injury
- DATIX form
who fills out the risk assessment
- not the student who has been injured
- information from the risk assessment must NOT be written in the case notes
what happens after the risk assessment is complete
- phone occupational health
- risk assessment destroyed once occupational health has been phoned
what is in the risk assessment form
- quite personal questions
- 10 questions
- if any of 4-10 are marked YES then source is deemed high risk
when is occupational health phoned
- after risk assessment completed and patient outcome known
where is the patients blood sample taken
- in house
where is the students blood sample taken
- out of house or A&E
what is the full management of an occupational exposure incident
- perform first aid
- is skin/tissue affected
= yes - then encourage are not bleed, do not suck damaged skin, wash with warm water and non-antimicrobial soap, use saline if no water available
= no - are eyes/ mouth affected = yes - rinse with copious water, use eye/mouth wash kits if available - then report incident as per local procedures or investigation, this should be proportionate to the potential severity of the incident, ensure that any corrective action are undertaken
- ensure that the item that causes the injury is disposed of safely
- then risk asses, take patient blood sample, take student blood sample then fill out DATIX form
what must you do if you wear contact lenses and your eyes are affected
- rinse/irrigate your eyes with water, then remove your lenses, then irrigate again
what is written in DATIX form if student is injured
- students details must be added into the person affected section
what is written in the DATIX form if patient is injured
- patients details entered into person affected
- student details added as witness
- student number added into summary of event
what is the risk of acquisition of hep b
- 1 in 3 = 30%
what is the incubation period and treatment for hep b
- incubation period is 3-6 months
- effective vaccine is available and essential
what is the risk of acquisition of hep c
- 1 in 30 = 3%
what is the incubation period and treatment of hep c
- incubation period is 20 years
- no vaccine available but there is a cure
what is the risk of acquisition of HIV
- 1 in 300 = 0.3%
what is the incubation period and treatment of HIV
- incubation period if 10 years
- no vaccine but there is good antivirals
what happens if student receives a sharps injury
- student needs immediate access to medical advice
- student offered post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) within the hour
- any other medical treatment as advised by a registered medical practitioner
- consider counselling
summary of what to do after sharps injury
- stop procedure
- inform the patient
- make the sharp safe
- first aid
- clinician
- risk assessment
- occupational health
- consent = bloods
- paperwork
- DATIX
