- Reasons for healthcare workers in the emergency and outpatient departments being exposed to infection
Healthcare
workers in some outpatient clinics and the emergency department are
routinely exposed to patient blood and other body fluids.
Workers
are frequently exposed to airborne or droplet-transmitted diseases
(especially in cases where appropriate personal protective equipment is
not worn or due to overcrowding or improper clinic design).
There is a
significant likelihood of workers being injured or pricked while handling
many of the acute patient treatment supplies (such as syringes, ampoules,
scalpels, etc.).