Steps if an accidental needlestick occurs:
Step 1. Clean/Decontaminate:
Wash wounds and contaminated skin with soap and water; rinse mouth, nose and eyes with water or saline.
Step 2. Page the needlestick hotline 188-9990 immediately for assessment and advice regarding treatment.
Pager 9990 is staffed by a UCOM clinician and is available 24 hours a day.
Do not talk with the source patient about testing for HIV and hepatitis viruses
Do not draw the source patient’s blood
Do not go to the Mitchell ER
Step 3. Inform your supervisor.
Step 4. Follow instructions of UCOM Clinician.
For exposures that occur during UCOM hours, provide the UCOM on-call clinician with source patient information, then come directly to UCOM for treatment.
For exposures that occur after UCOM hours, provide the UCOM on-call clinician with source patient information. If needed, a starter dose of prophylactic medicine will be delivered to you.
All employees with after-hours exposures must come to UCOM on the next working day (Mon-Fri, 7:30 am – 4:00 pm)