Body fluid exposure..from a cyst?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all, I am a new RN in dermatology (5 months) today we had a surgery to remove a possible recurrent cyst from a pts back. We weren't sure for sure it it was a cyst, it was flat looking when I saw it but anyway, I numbed the area with local anesthetic and while I was injecting, some cyst contents burst and got some on my face. I was wearing googles and a gown, no mask but had my mouth shut. As soon as it happened I washed my face and changed my gown and goggles. Nothing got in my mouth (that I know of, I'd imagine I would know) and not in my eyes. I let the MD know, he didn't seem concerned. The pt denied HIV hx or Hep c, I am hep b immune. There was no blood visible. Am I just freaking myself out about exposure? I usually wear a masks with cysts but the one time i let my guard down, BAM! Cyst guts. It was a very small amount.Thanks everyone

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Specializes in Critical Care, Capacity/Bed Management.

If nothing got in your mouth, nose, eyes and the skin on your face is intact it is not considered an exposure. This happened to me while helping a nurse irrigate a patients catheter. I had on goggles and gown and some splashed on my face. I was told to make an incident report but that I would not need to be seen in OMS.

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Does your facility have any policy just in case this happens? I would be worry too if I were you. Talk to your PCP about it and see if you can get tested. I think usually 6 months after exposure to be sure you are not contracted anything. Not medical advice but these are steps I would take myself.

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You should always do an incident report if there is ever any exposure.. no matter how small.

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