Student Exposure to Infectious and Environmental Hazards Policy

Upon exposure, students are to obtain immediate first aid as outlined in the procedures in the appendix to this policy.

• Prompt medical evaluation is important to ensure appropriate treatment
• Inform the supervising house officer or supervising physician of any exposures. If the incident occurs during normal business hours, report immediately to Student Health Services or the Emergency Department located within the facility in which the incident occurred.  If the incident occurs at a site without an Emergency Department, or outside of normal business hours, report immediately to the nearest Emergency Department
• When HIV post–exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is indicated, early treatment (within hours) is recommended.
• Carefully note the type of exposure, type of fluid/tissue involved and appropriate information about the source patient (risk factors, lab data)
• Remind the supervising physician that additional site-specific policies may also apply and ensure the institutional policies and procedures at the site of the incident are implemented.
• The student must also notify the course/clerkship director of the incident so they may be properly excused from duties while receiving treatment and follow-up care.

• Students must be seen for follow up evaluation at Student Health Center.
• Failure to report the incident to Student Health Services may result in financial liability for the student
• If care is rendered at an emergency room, the student’s insurance will be utilized. The balance of any medical bills as a direct result of this incident must be brought to the attention of the Senior Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs who will ensure that the student will bare no financial liability, provided this policy has been followed.
• Students will be excused from all learning activities to address the potential risks or effects of infectious or environmental disease or disability. Students will also meet with the Senior Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs to discuss the impact on their education and/or graduation date.

• National Clinicians’ Consultation Center PEPline
  UCSF Clinician Consultation Center
  
  Providers only!
• CDC PEP Resources for Clinicians
• Sharps Safety Download pdf
• Bloodborne Infectious Diseases Risk Factors
• Injection Safety Resources for Providers

• Consider blood, body fluids and tissue from all patients to be potentially infectious.
• Perform hand hygiene before/after all patient contacts.
• Wear gloves when exposure to blood and body fluids may occur, e.g., during phlebotomy. Change your gloves and perform hand hygiene after each procedure and before contact with another patient.
• Wear a gown, mask and goggles when blood or body fluids splashes may occur, e.g., during surgery, placing nasogastric tubes, etc.
• Report immediately all incidents of blood and body fluid exposure of the following types:
  • Parenteral: needle stick, puncture or cut.
  • Mucous membrane: splash to eyes, nose, mouth.
  • Cutaneous: contact with blood and body fluids on ungloved hands or other skin surfaces that may be cut, chapped, abraded or affected by active dermatitis.

• Needle stick, especially hollow-bore needles and/or deep injury
• Other percutaneous injuries such as cuts
• Source patient with known untreated or poorly controlled infection with HIV/HBV/HCV

• Mucous membrane splash
• Non-intact skin splash
• Human bite 

• Clean wounds or punctures with soap and water
• Flush mucous membranes or skin copiously with water or saline
• Do not “force bleed” the wound
• Do not apply caustics (eg, bleach, organic solvents, hard surface disinfectants, etc.)

A medical school has policies in place that effectively address medical student exposure to infectious and environmental hazards, including the following:

• The education of medical students about methods of prevention
• The procedures for care and treatment after exposure, including a definition of financial responsibility
• The effects of infectious and environmental disease or disability on medical student learning activities

Reviewed: 11/30/18; 7/26/2025
Approved: 12/21/18; 10/1/2025
Policy Implementation: Course/Clerkship Directors, Senior Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs, Student Health Services
Policy Contact: Senior Associate Dean for Student and Academic Affairs