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Needlestick or mucosal exposure

NCLEX-RN glossary · Safety And Infection Control

Definition

Accidental percutaneous injury or contact of mucous membranes with blood or body fluids, requiring immediate implementation of exposure control protocols.

Needlestick or mucosal exposure in plain English

Crucial for preventing transmission of bloodborne pathogens; involves immediate site cleansing, incident reporting, and initiation of post-exposure prophylaxis. A common mistake is delaying site cleansing to prioritize the notification of the provider or completing an incident report, which increases exposure time.

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