A body substance exposure (BSE) occurs when an employee experiences a cut, scrape, or puncture from a contaminated sharp, or when a mucous membrane is violated with patient/other employee blood or body fluids. Since bloodborne pathogens are spread through blood and body fluids, the best way to avoid an exposure is to protect yourself by wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment. Goggles should be worn anytime a splash exposure could potentially occur. Gloves should be worn during contact with blood or moist body fluids.
Standard Precautions should be used for all patients.
How To Identify A Body Substance Exposure (BSE)
Access MM Needlestick and Sharps Injuries Prevention
Immediately following an exposure to the blood or body fluid of a patient:
- Needlesticks and cuts should be washed with soap and water.
- Splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin should be flushed with water.
- Eyes should be irrigated with clean water, saline or sterile irrigants.
There is no scientific evidence to show that using antiseptics for wound care or squeezing the wound will reduce the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. The use of a caustic agent, such as bleach, is not recommended.
To report a Body Substance Exposure:
- Page pager #5356 through the Michigan Medicine Paging Website or by contacting the hospital operator at 6-4000.
- Please provide the following information in the page or to the hospital operator:
- Name of EE involved in the BSE
- Call back number
- UMID
- Source patients MRN
- The OHS RN (or ED RN after hours and weekends) will ask a series of questions about the body substance exposure and provide instructions on the next course of action. The BSE Reporting Document contains information you will be asked to provide.
- Please have the source patient’s name, registration number and hospital location information available during the call with OHS or the ED.
- NEVER INITIATE DRAWING PATIENT BLOOD FOR TESTING WITHOUT CALLING OHS. Source patient labs may not be required based on the extent of the exposure. In addition, blood may already have been tested or available in the lab. If blood work is indicated, OHS/ED will instruct you. If instructed to draw blood on the source patient, follow this link for the lab requisition that you can use. An HIV test on the source patient is completed on all reported exposures unless the patient has a documented positive HIV test.
If HIV post exposure treatment is recommended it should be started as soon as possible - preferably within two hours.
Employees at Off-Site Clinics:
- Follow the same process as outlined above.
- Request the patient involved in the possible exposure remain at clinic/treatment space until OHS is contacted to report the exposure and determine if patient labs are needed. It can be difficult to get labs after patients leave Michigan Medicine facilities.
- In cases where source patient labs are required, call Metro Couriers at 734-973-0973 for stat pick-up.
AES and OR After-Hours Body Substance Exposure