3. Biosafety in case of suspected Ebola

3.8 Contamination with biological agents

3.8.5 Accidental exposure to blood or body fluids

3.8.5.3 What to do in case of accidental exposure to blood or body fluids ?

  • Do not panic

  • Stop the action in progress once the patient is safe

First aid and immediate steps:

  • Go to a water source

  • Wash the wound with water and soap

  • Then disinfect (dip in Dakin’s solution or bleach (diluted1/10) or Povidone-iodine (betadine) or 70% alcohol for a minimum of 5 to 10 mins)

  • If the contamination occurred in the eye(s), flush with copious amounts of running water or saline for at least 5 mins

  • Let the site manager know - do not hide the accidental exposure to blood & body fluids (For Ebola work in pairs)

  • Inform the doctor in charge who will review the circumstances and assess the risk as soon as possible (in all cases in the first 4 hours)

  • Quickly contact (in the first 4 hours) the doctor in charge to consider a potential anti-HIV chemoprevention and attempt to determine the source patient’s serology.