Exposure-prone procedure Policy Term Definition

A procedure involving the contact of a Health Care Worker’s finger with a needle tip in a body cavity or the simultaneous presence of the Health Care Worker’s fingers and a needle or other sharp instrument or object in a poorly visualized or highly confined area of the body. Such procedures pose a recognized risk of injury to the Health Care Worker that is likely to result in the Health Care Worker’s blood contacting the patient’s body cavity, subcutaneous tissues, or mucous membranes.