Sharps Injuries Flashcards
What blood borne viruses can you be exposed to through a sharps injury?
-hepatitis B -hepatitis C -HIV
What are some examples of an exposure/sharps injury? (4)
-needles or sharp objects that are contaminated with b lood/bodily fluids that pierce/break the skin -splashing of blood/bodily fluids onto skin that is broken -contamination of eyes, nose or mouth with blood/bodily fluids -a human bit that breaks the skn
What other kinds of infections can you get from a sharps injury?
-bacterial infections
What are some common sharps injuries in the dental practice?
-during IDB, needle goes into thumb -adjusting posts, CoCr dentures etc. out with the mouth -burs or ultrasonic tips left in situ in the handpieces which are placed at elbow height (legs/arms passing by) -slippin luxators -anaesthetic spraying from palate -unsheathed needles left on messy trays
How does the number of significant occupational exposures compare to all occupational exposure incidents?
It is a lot lower
What is a significant occupational exposure?
An exposure where the source is known to be infected with a blood borne virus or suspected to have a blood borne virus (high risk e.g. intravenous drug user)
What blood borne virus are you at most risk of from a sharps injury?
Hepatitis C
What blood borne virus are you at least risk of being exposed to through a sharps injury?
Hep B
What groups of people are more likely to get a sharps injury/exposure?
People working in healthcare
Describe the distribution of needlestick injuries relative to timing.
-most happen during a procedure (65%) -some happen post procedure but before disposal (18%) -some happen during or after disposal (17%)
What is the acronym used to remember what to do immediately after obtaining a sharps injury?
Be sharps AWARE A - apply pressure W - wash don’t scrub A - assess type of injury R - risk of source? E - establish contact
Describe the first step in the AWARE acronym.
Apply pressure and allow to bleed -Gently squeeze injury site to induce bleeding
Describe what you do in the second step in the AWARE acronym.
-wash affected aread with soap and warm running water - DO NOT SCRUB -treat mucosal surfaces by rinsing with warm water or saline
What two main factors do you consider when assessing the type of injury?
Is it a high risk material? Is it a significant injury?
What would be classed as a high risk/not high risk material?
High risk = blood and bodily fluids with visible blood, saliva containing blood. If saliva doesn’t contain blood only risk is for Heb B
What is considered a significant injury?
-percutaneous (breached the skin)
-human bite with skin broken (bood involved)
-exposure of broken skin or mucuos membrane to blood or bodily fluids
What is not considered a significant injury?
A superficial grace, exposure of intact skin
Give examples of injuries that might occur and would be high risk?
-A deep penetrating injury by a device visibly contaminated with blood -injury with a device that had previouslt been placed directly in the source patient’s artery or vein
Is a hollow borne instrument or a solid instrument higher risk? Why?
Hollow as it can hold more blood than a solid instrument that will just have blood on the surface