Question

What if a surgical technician is accidentally cut through his gloves by a scalpel. The HIV/Hepatitis B/C is unknown, the physician is unknown and the HIV/Hepatitis B/C status of the surgical technician is unknown. What will be the necessary steps? What is the potential liability for both parties? And what are the options open for the surgical technician?

Answer 1

The steps which had to be done here are

• First the surgical technician has to remove the gloves and wash the hands in running tap water.Soap and water can be used to wash the hand.Do not squeeze the site.
• Inform to the immediate supervisor
• Post exposure prophylaxis as to be seeked immediately even if the status of patient is unknown, positive or negative
• Follow up

The potential liability are the

• The physician, surgeon can be held liable for notifying if their patients are positive or negative if not informed
• The surgical technician for not checking the patient pre op history for infectious diseases
• The organization for not following the protocols when a surgical patient is taken

The options available for the surgical technician are to

• Report it to the senior or the supervisor and write an incident report
• Ensuring the patient is investigated for any infectious disease