Worried about eye splash

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

This is a needle-stick/splash exposure incident. Immediate immediate eye irrigation is key.

• If only Rocephin was splashed, it's irritating but not an infection risk—flush your eyes thoroughly.
• If any blood was mixed in, there's potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens (HIV, hepatitis B/C), so you need to report it and follow post-exposure protocols.

For the Patient 

• Using gloves, carefully remove the needle and dispose of it properly in a sharps container.
• Assess the site for bleeding, swelling, or signs of infection, and apply a dressing if needed.
• Notify the provider of the partially missed dose.

Next Steps

• Report the incident immediately, and follow your facility's exposure control protocol.
• Document the medication, the patient's condition, and how the exposure happened.
• Fill out an incident report.

Seek Medical Evaluation

• Inform occupational health or your infection control team. You need to assess your risk of infection (especially since the patient is immunocompromised).

Do you know if the patient had any known bloodborne infections? That would determine if further testing is needed for you. If the patient has HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C, you may need post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) or additional testing.

Monitor for Symptoms

• Watch for signs of infection, irritation, or eye discomfort.
• Follow up with employee health for any recommended blood tests.

Key Takeaways

This is both a medication administration error and an occupational exposure incident.

Learn from the event—ensure the syringe is securely attached before injection to prevent detachment in the future.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth