Post-exposure prophylaxis Flashcards
When talking of BBV, what viruses are common in UK?
HBV
HCV
HIV
Technically any virus including HTLV, WNV could be transmitted
BBVs spread through contact with blood and other body fluids, such as semen and
breast milk. Unless there is blood contamination there is no, or very low, risk (depending
on the virus) from contact with saliva, sweat, urine, faeces, vomit or sputum.
What are methods of transmission of BBVs?
sharps - needles/ accidental
sexual
open wounds/ splashing mucus membranes/ human bites - less common
Whether contact will lead to viral transmission depends on:
- route of exposure,
- the type of virus
- how much of the virus the carrier has in their body
- immune status of the exposed person
What is risk of HBV transmission through the following injuries:
puncture injury
bite
splashing
puncture injury - up to 30%
bite - limited cases, evidence suggests low risk
splashing - limited cases, lower risk than puncture injury/ bite. Even lower risk if it is saliva/ urine, as lower viral load
What is risk of HCV transmission through the following injuries:
puncture injury
bite
splashing
puncture injury - 1%-3%
bite - limited cases, evidence suggests low risk
splashing - limited cases, lower risk than puncture injury/ bite. No history of cases of transmission with saliva/ urine
What is risk of HIV transmission through the following injuries:
puncture injury
bite
splashing
puncture injury - 0.3%
bite - no previous cases
splashing - 0.1% if splash blood onto open wound. No evidence of salivary transmission
What should healthcare workers do to reduce risk of needlestick?
PPE
Clean up body fluids
Cover breaks in skin
Vaccination - HBV
After needlestick, what is next step in first aid?
Bleed/ wash/ cover wound
Inform line manager
If a bite - need to consider other infections (not BBV)
Following needlestick, risk assessment must be carried out by A+E/ occupational health.
What is risk assessment based on?
Injury
Source
Recipient
Percutaneous -
- Needle gauge
- Superficial/ deep injury
- Contaminated fresh blood present
- Gloves worn - single/ double
Mucocutaneous -
- area of exposure
- skin breaks
- cotaminated fresh blood present
- approx volume of blood
Source -
BBV staus
viral load if on treatment
Recipient -
HBV vaccination status
Medical conditions including pregnancy
If deemed low risk - then to contact occupational health at earliest opportunity.
Following high-risk needlestick (bites, puncture). baseline tests are taken for storage. This can later be tested for BBV serology from patient, if source found to be positive.
HBV Ag
HCV Ab
HIV Ag/ Ab
Select blood and body fluid exposure on ICE.
Requires consent form from patient.
If not willing to consent - inform Workplace Health and Wellbeing.
If unable to consent, can complete consent form in patients best interests
What post-exposure prophylaxis may given?
HBV immunisation - given within 24 hours usually. Effective up to 7 days.
Give dose at day zero, 1 month, 2 months if not previously vaccinated. May need booster at 12 months.
Previously vaccinated - give booster dose if last dose >1 year ago
HBIG can be given in rare cases, if patient is known to be non-responder to previous vaccine
HIV PEP (truvada + raltegravir) can be given within 72 hours, but usually only under specialist advice if high risk e.g if there has been significant trauma/ blood contamination
Following high-risk needlestick injury, what advice is given to patient
Offer counselling/ time off work
Avoid blood donation/ sex
After high risk needlestick, and initial tests are negative for BBV transmission, when is next testing done?
4- 6 weeks
HBsAg
HepC RNA
HIV Ag/Ab test
3 months
HBsAg
HepC Ab - add Ag/ PCR if high risk
HIV Ag/Ab test - if negative no further testing
6 months
HBsAg
HepC Ab
NNUH needlestick policy.
Immediate management - bleed/ wash/ cover
Report to person in charge - datix
What is next step?
0830-1700 contact Workplace Health and Wellbeing
Out of hours - contact site manager.
High risk - refer A+E
Low risk - wait to refer to Workplace Health and Wellbeing
NNUH needlestick policy.
Immediate management - bleed/ wash/ cover
Report to person in charge - datix
Contact Workplace Health and Wellbeing/ A+E depending on time of incident
What is next step?
If low risk - Workplace Health and Wellbeing at earliest opportunity
If high risk - assess if needs HBV/ HIV prophylaxis.
NNUH needlestick policy.
Immediate management - bleed/ wash/ cover
Report to person in charge - datix
Contact Workplace Health and Wellbeing/ A+E depending on time of incident
Assess if prophylaxis required.
What is next step?
Follow up
Staff member -
- follow up with Workplace Health and Wellbeing
If not a patient/ staff member -
- follow up with employer occupational health
- their occupational health can contact NNUH Workplace Health and Wellbeing
Give advice about blood donation/ sex
Offer counselling
HIV post-exposure prophylaxis.
When is PEP indicated?
Not recommended
- HIV negative/ low risk source
- if exposed to non-infectious body fluids - urine, vomit, saliva & faeces which are not visibly blood stained
- blood exposure on unbroken skin
- bite causing broken skin
- high risk blood exposure, with no HIV history
- HIV positive on ART - if viral RNA <200
Recommended
- blood exposure in confirmed HIV unless viral RNA <200 (including blood on mucocutaneous surface)
- blood exposure in high risk HIV - e.g IVDU, MSM, sex workers, African
PEP not given lightly due to side effects
If patient <16 or pregnant, then discuss with paeds/ gynaecology