I. How dangerous is “exposure”?
Occupational exposure is a matter of personal privacy and what kind of mentality the exposed person will have to face the future, so there are strict rules both in China and abroad to keep the confidentiality of the exposed person by all means. According to internationally recognized studies, the chance of HIV infection among medical workers after being stabbed with HIV-contaminated needles is 0.33%, and the chance of HIV infection after mucosal surface exposure is 0.09%. Through preventive medicine, the two infection rates can be reduced by about 80% each again. Overseas statistics have been done on 2712 people with unbroken skin exposure, and none of them had HIV infection. According to the information of China STD AIDS Prevention and Control Center, there are nearly 100 HIV occupationally exposed people in China, and none of the exposed people are infected with HIV yet, but the issue of protection from exposure is still given high priority.
In January 2002, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially released the “HIV Occupational Exposure Safety Drug Stockpile (Point) Implementation Plan”. According to the program, preventive medication should preferably be administered within 4 hours of exposure to HIV, and no later than 24 hours. According to the protection requirements for HIV occupational exposure, when performing operations that directly touch the blood and body fluids of HIV-infected patients, the operator should wear double protective gloves. Surgeons should wear two pieces of surgical gowns when operating on HIV patients. Obstetrics and gynecology medical staff should wear waterproof aprons when delivering babies to avoid contamination from amniotic fluid spurts. Laboratories engaged in AIDS research should be strictly divided into clean and contaminated areas. Syringes used by AIDS patients should be put into anti-acute containers for centralized disposal. Professor Kang Laiyi, vice president of the National STD and AIDS Prevention Association and Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said, “Use these methods to deal with AIDS occupational exposure carry on.” In short, the work should pay attention to take some can protect themselves from each other stabbing, or avoid direct contact with the work object blood methods. Especially when the target of the exposure is a drug addict, illegal blood seller, etc. who may be HIV-infected, you should do a good job of self-protection.
For those who are confirmed to be infected with HIV after exposure, we will provide care and assistance in accordance with the national “four free and one care” policy.