Govt of Karnataka

DISTRICT QUALITY ASSURANCE UNIT BELAGAVI

DH/CHC/PHC/UPHC

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PROTOCOL FOR SHARP

MANAGEMENT
Sharp Management: (DH/GH/CHC: C3.5, 24*7 PHC: C3.2 NON 24*7
PHC/UPHC: C3.2)
SHARP MANAGEMENT
Proper management of sharp waste generated from the hospital needs to be carried out
in order to prevent the risk associated with inappropriate handling of the sharps like
blades, needles, scalpels etc. Sharp waste generated from the hospital poses an immediate
risk of needle stick injuries to waste generator or waste handlers. Safe handling and
disposal of needles and other sharps should be part of overall strategy to protect staff,
patients and visitors from exposure to blood-borne pathogens

Sharp waste generated from the hospital comprises of needles, syringes, scalpels, blades,
glass items and metals that may cause puncture and cuts. These include both used and
unused sharps

POST EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS (PEP)

In the health facility, all the healthcare personnel are at risk of exposure to blood borne
pathogens. Formanagement of any exposure to blood borne pathogens it is to be ensured
by the health facilities thatthere is a protocol in place for reporting of such exposure and
providing an appropriate post exposure prophylaxis to the exposed staff.

Post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) refers to the comprehensive management given to

minimise the risk following exposure to blood borne pathogens (HIV, HBV and HCV). This
includes:
First aid
Counselling
Risk assessment
Relevant laboratory investigations based on informed consent of the source and exposed
person
Depending on the risk assessment, the provision of short term (4 weeks) of antiretroviral
drugs or hepatitis immunoglobin and vaccine
Follow up and support.
Exposure which may place healthcare worker at risk of blood borne pathogen is defined
as:
Per cutaneous injury (e.g. needle-stick or cut with a sharp instrument)
Contact with the mucous membranes of the eye or mouth
Contact with non-intact skin (particularly when the exposed skin is chapped, abraded, or
afflicted with dermatitis)
Contact with intact skin when the duration of contact is prolonged (e.g. several minutes or
more) with blood or other potentially infectious body fluids.
Table 11:Potentially infectious body fluids
POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS BODY FLUIDS
Exposure to body fluids considered at “risk” Exposure to body fluids considered
“not at risk”*
Blood Tears
Semen Saliva
Vaginal secretions Urine and faeces
Cerebrospinal fluids Sweat
Synovial, pleural, peritoneal, pericardial fluid *All these fluids are considered to be non-
Amniotic fluid infectious only if these secretions are not
Other body fluids contaminated with visible contaminated with visible blood
blood