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All health care workers - be that medical doctors, nursing staff or other support personnel - run the risk of being infected, and because of their unique employment environment should even be more careful and should demand that correct protocol be followed and maintained at all times.
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on this page
- Exposure to the HIV virus
- Needle stick injury
- Some simple guidelines
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Should a health care worker be exposed to the HIV virus, post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) drugs should be taken within 3 hours or no later than 24 - 48 hours after the incident.
Depending on the circumstances a 2 or 3 drug regimen is normally followed for a four week period.
This also applies to percutaneous exposure (needle stick injury) as well as mucocutaneous exposure (transmission by means of mucous membrane and/or skin) - although the transmission danger is less through mucocutaneous exposure.
Some factors may increase the risk of infection with a needle stick injury, or a deep injury, with a hollow bore needle, when it is contaminated with blood.
After a percutaneous injury bleeding should be increased by pressing around the parameter of the injury (but do not to press on the injury site) and should be done under running water.
With mucocutaneous injury where contact occurs with broken skin or mucous membranes it is suggested to wash the area well with soap and water and if the eyes are involved to wash and irrigate the eyes well.
There are some simple and basic guidelines that health care professionals can follow to help prevent the spread of infections, such as:
- In all circumstances wear gloves, goggles and mouth guard when handling blood and other body fluids.
- Assume that all patients are potentially infectious.
- Always wash your hands very well after any contact with blood or body fluids, never mind the amount of blood or body fluid.
- Handle needles and any "sharps" with care.
- Cover any cuts, open wounds or other abrasions (no matter how small) with a waterproof plaster.
- If blood spills occur, mop it up with paper towels, while wearing gloves and wash the areas with a strong detergent or a solution made from sodium dichloroisocyanurate or alternatively use a 1% solution of sodium hypochlorite or should any of these not be available use diluted household bleach.
Our home test kits | Urine test strips - testing for:
:: Glucose
:: Ketones
:: Blood / Hemoglobin
:: Protein
:: Nitrite
:: pH
:: Urobilinogen
:: Bilirubin
:: Leucocytes
:: Specific gravity
Breast Aware (breast examination pad)
Alcohol breathalyzer (disposable)
Ovulation tests (testing fertility periods or periods when you won't conceive) | Malaria test kit - testing for:
:: Plasmodium falciparum (Pf)
:: Plasmodium vivax (Pv)
:: Plasmodium ovale (Po)
:: Plasmodium malariae (Pm)
Prostate test (PSA test)
HIV test /Aids test (testing for HIV 1 and 2 antibodies)
Drug test (5-in-1 assay) testing for:
:: Cocaine (crack and cocaine derivatives)
:: THC (marijuana, weed, grass, hashish etc)
:: Amphetamines (speed, uppers, base)
:: Opiates (morphine, opium, heroin)
:: Methamphetamines (meth, ice, e, ecstasy) |
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