Question

If you were a hospital administrator or the department director or head surgical technician, how would you handle the following case: A surgical technician in the operating room is accidentally cut through his gloves by a scalpel. The HIV and Hepatitis B/C status of the patient is unknown. The HIV/Hepatitis B/C status of the physician is unknown. The HIV/Hepatitis B/C status of the surgical technician is unknown. What are the necessary steps? What is the potential liability for the parties? What are the options open for the surgical technician?

Answer 1

The steps we had to take here are

• The surgical technician must first remove the gloves and wash his hands in running tap water. Soap and water can be used to wash the hand. Do not squeeze the site.
• Inform the immediate overseer
• Post-exposure prophylaxis as to be sought immediately even when the patient's status is unknown, positive or negative
• Continue

Potenzial for liability is

• The doctor, surgeon, may be held liable for notification if their patients are positive or negative unless informed
• The surgical technician not to check the history of infectious diseases of the patient
• The organization for not following the protocols when taking an operating patient

The surgical technician has the option to

• Report to the supervisor or senior, and write an incident report
• Ensure patient is examined for any infectious disease