What factors must qualified health care professionals consider when assessing the need for follow-up of occupational exposures?
The evaluation must include the following factors to determine the need for further follow-up: Type of exposure • Percutaneous injury (e.g., depth, extent) • Mucous membrane exposure • Nonintact skin exposure • Bites resulting in blood exposure to either person involved Type and amount of fluid/tissue • Blood • Fluids containing blood Infectious status of source • Presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) • Presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody • Presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody Susceptibility of exposed person • Hepatitis B vaccine and vaccine response status • HBV, HCV, or HIV immune status After conducting this initial evaluation of the occupational exposure, a qualified health care professional must decide whether to conduct further follow-up on an individual basis using all of the information obtained.
