A medical assistant splashes a potentially infectious liquid in their eye while collecting a specimen. After immediate eye flushing, what is the MOST appropriate next step to take according to standard precautions and exposure control protocols?
Check the patient's medical records for any infectious diseases before taking any further action.
Report the incident to the supervisor or infection control officer immediately and follow the facility’s specific exposure control plan.
Continue working and report the incident at the end of the shift.
Wait to see if symptoms develop before reporting the incident to a supervisor.
If a health care worker experiences exposure to potentially infectious material in the eye, they should first flush the area with water or sterile irrigants immediately. Then, they must report the incident to the appropriate personnel, typically their supervisor or the infection control officer, and follow the facility's exposure control plan for further medical evaluation and treatment. It is crucial to report the incident promptly to ensure appropriate management, including prophylaxis if necessary, and documentation for worker's compensation or further follow-up. Merely continuing to work without reporting increases the risk of infection and is against occupational safety guidelines. There is no need to wait until the end of the shift, and checking patient records for infectious diseases does not eliminate the risk of other potential infections and delays the exposure report.
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