Policies Relating to Infectious Diseases and Blood Borne Pathogen Exposures

• Students with Communicable Diseases: Students in the didactic phase of the program should refer to the Attendance Policy found elsewhere in this handbook. Students who are ill with communicable diseases or conditions are not permitted to have patient contact. This restriction may be necessary to protect the health and safety of patients and staff at the clinical rotation sites. Persons with the following medical conditions will not be permitted patient contact without a medical clearance:
  • Active chickenpox, measles, German measles, herpes zoster (shingles), hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, hepatitis C, tuberculosis
    • *Students with chronic hepatitis B will be monitored per the Updated CDC Recommendations for the Management of Hepatitis B Virus-Infected Health-Care Providers and Students noted in the Health Insurance and Immunizations section of this manual.
  • Group A streptococcal disease (i.e., strep throat) until 24 hours of treatment received
  • Diarrhea lasting over three days or accompanied by fever or bloody stools
  • Draining or infected skin lesions
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Influenza
  • COVID-19
    • Refer to the School of Health Sciences Immunization Packet
    • Follow clinical rotation site’s protocols
    • Visit the Healthy Elon Vaccination Central web page for full information about vaccinations and boosters.
• If an ill student is unsure whether he/she should participate in patient care, the student should contact the Student Health Services at 336-278-7230 or see their personal physician.
• Accidental potential blood borne pathogen exposures in a clinical setting requires prompt evaluation.
• It is the responsibility of the student to immediately report sharp injuries, needle sticks, or other potential exposure to blood-borne pathogens via blood or body fluids to the supervisor at the incident and complete the Report of Accidental Exposure form within 24 hours (see Report of Accidental Exposure form on Exxat).
• In the event of a potential blood-borne pathogen exposure in a student, the student should seek immediate medical care to initiate the post-exposure protocol as outlined below.
• In the event of any potential blood-borne pathogen exposure that is evaluated in the facility/health system the student is rotating in, the student should obtain the name of the source patient, medical record #, room number, and diagnosis. This information is necessary to assist the medical provider in determining the potential severity of the exposure.
• If initial care is provided outside the facility the student is rotating in, the student should inform the provider that Elon DPAS follows current CDC guidelines in determining the need for post-exposure HIV prophylaxis. If the provider has questions, he/she could call the Director of Clinical Education for guidance.  Appropriate first aid should be given for the injury and a tetanus booster when indicated.
• Additional information for providers is available at: National Clinicians’ Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Hotline (PEPline)1-888-HIV-4911 (448-4911) 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Eastern Time. The PEPline website provides expert guidance in managing healthcare worker exposures to HIV and hepatitis B and C. Callers receive immediate post-exposure prophylaxis recommendations.

Specific guidelines to follow:

• If the student is within a 30-minute radius of Alamance Regional Medical Center (Burlington, NC), he/she should present to Occupational Health during regular work hours or the Emergency Department of ARMC after hours.
• After this initial evaluation, the student will need to follow up with Occupational Health at Alamance Regional Medical Center for the subsequent testing and/or prophylaxis.
• When testing is medically advisable, it is subject to informed consent and results are treated confidentially.
• Any questions of difficulties accessing post-exposure evaluation and treatment should be immediately addressed with the Clinical Education Team.
• If a student’s health insurance has finally determined that it will not cover a medically appropriate course of prophylactic treatment for the student’s potential exposure to HIV (from an exposure which has occurred in the course of the student’s college studies and activities), the student will be responsible for any cost incurred.
• The best protection is prevention and adherence to Standard Universal Precautions (see below).

Standard Universal Precautions

When providing patient care, regardless of the real or perceived communicable disease status of the patient, all students and staff should follow Standard Universal Precautions:

Wash hands before and after patient contact, according to hospital policy, even if gloves are used

Wear gloves when exposure to blood, body fluids, excretions, or secretions is likely.

Use gloves appropriately according to aseptic and/or sterile techniques and change gloves between patients.

Wear gowns/aprons when soiling of clothing with blood or body fluids is likely.

Wear masks, face shields, and eye protection when aerosolization of blood or body fluids may occur.

Dispose of sharps in designated rigid sharps containers. 

Never recap sharps by hand.

Dispose of waste saturated with blood or body fluids in designated red-bag trash containers.