PEP is any prophylactic (preventive) treatment started just after exposure to blood or bodily fluid contaminated with a pathogen (such as a disease-causing virus), in order to prevent infection and the development of disease.

 

Although multiple post exposure prophylaxis diseases may be transmitted from exposure to blood, the absolute most serious infections are hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HIV. Fortunately, the risk of acquiring some of these infections is low.

 

In order to be exposed to a blood borne pathogen, you must have connection with blood, a visibly bloody fluid (i.e., phlegm or urine containing blood), or another bodily fluid (i.e., semen or vaginal secretions) that have an infectious organism (virus or bacteria). The blood or fluid must come in direct connection with some part of your body. A disease can enter the body through the bloodstream, open skin, or mucous membranes, such as a person's eye, mouth, or genitals. Connection with skin that is intact (without new cuts, scrapes, or rashes) poses no danger of infection.

 

Thus, exposure to a blood borne pathogen is achievable after:

 

A skin injury such as a needle stick or cut with a sharp object and/or connection with a mucous membrane (including exposure through sexual intercourse, especially if an ulcer is present or vaginal/rectal tissues are injured) or non-intact skin.

 

What do I do after blood or body fluid exposure?

 

• Wash the area - The very first and most significant step after being subjected to blood or bodily fluids is to clean the area well with soap and water. You are able to clean small wounds and punctures having an antiseptic such as for instance an alcohol-based hand gel, since alcohol kills HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus. However, the alcohol may sting. For mucosal surfaces (mouth, nose), the area should be flushed with copious levels of water. Eyes should be flushed with saline or water. There's no evidence that expressing fluid by squeezing the wound will further reduce the risk of blood borne infection.

 

So what can the doctor do after implementing medical measures?

 

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) - Treatments can be found to reduce the risk of becoming infected with HIV after exposure. Previous studies have suggested that the usage of an anti-HIV medication, reduced the already low danger of healthcare workers becoming infected with HIV by about 81% (but perhaps a higher rate of prevention with the brand new anti-HIV agents available). The chance of becoming infected with HIV as a result of other forms of exposure (i.e., trauma, rape) might be even lower than the risk of infection after a hook stick.