Stab, cut and bite injuries
Immediate measures and follow-up of stab, cut and bite injuries in case of danger of exposure to biological factors.
Main content
The purpose of this procedure is to prevent/reduce the development of disease when an employee or student has been exposed to biological factors. The procedure shall ensure that employees, students and managers are familiar with routines on measures and treatment in the event of stab and cut injuries. All employees are obliged to familiarize themselves with the procedure and to help in the event of injury.
This procedure applies to all employees and students at the University of Bergen who work with and may be exposed to biological factors.
Preventive measures:
The purpose of the routine is to prevent bloodborne infection such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. Blood is always handled as potentially infectious. Everyone working with blood/products and microorganisms must check their own vaccine status. This routine describes how to avoid injuries via needles.
Vaccine status and vaccination
Vaccine status can be checked here: About Vaccinations
Anyone who can be exposed to infection must be offered vaccination. Although vaccination is voluntary, the employee is obliged to contribute to reducing risk. Information about this can be found on the Norwegian Institute of Public Health's website (NO only)
Employees who are not vaccinated against hepatitis B should do so by contacting the occupational health service at UiB. Employees working with other pathogens should vaccinate themselves against these if vaccine is available.
Immunosuppressive treatment
It is recommended that people who are undergoing immunosuppressive treatment do not work with biological factors.
Facilitation
If there are needles with protection mechanisms on the market, they should be used. Cannula box should be available at the user site
Handling needles
- Do not put protective caps back on used needles.
- Do not remove used needles from syringes.
- Do not break and bend needles.
- Cutting and stinging disposable equipment is immediately disposed of in cans that are then securely closed.
- Keep the boxes as close to the user location as possible.
- Fill the boxes only 3/4 full and seal them before transport.
Injury procedure:
This procedure applies in cases where an employee or student suffers cuts or stab wounds while being exposed to a biological factor such as blood product, cell line or microorganisms. Supplementary information about the risk of transmission can be found here.
Perform first aid
Stab and cut injuries
In case of stings or cuts where there is no risk of exposure, perform regular first aid and contact the emergency room if the injury requires the treatment of a doctor.
- In case of cuts, allow bleeding wounds to bleed, but do not induce bleeding.
- Wash wounds or the puncture site thoroughly with soap and water and then disinfect with a liquor solution if available.
- Protect the wound with plasters or bandages.
- Consider whether there is a real risk of infection.
- If you consider that there is a real risk of infection, consult a doctor for further treatment.
Bite injuries
Bite injuries caused by humans or animals represent the risk of infection. Any bite should be considered for the purpose of any follow-up by a doctor.
Infections at the bite are usually caused by agents in the mouth flora of the one who bites. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has supplementary information on its website (NO only). Symptoms are usually pain and soreness at the site of the bite, swollen lymph glands and fever.
The tetanus bacteria can be transmitted through deep bites. Rabies can be transmitted by the bite of, among other things, dog or cat in endemic areas.
Further treatment by a doctor
In the event of stings or cuts that may result in a risk of exposure, the employee or student who is injured as quickly as possible and no later than 48 hours must take a "0" test to determine the status before any infection occurs and thus the starting point for further testing and follow-up.
Who | Where | What | Note |
| Employees / students at UiB | Outpatient clinic for blood sampling (NO only)
| Take the "0" sample | The individual is responsible for contacting a GP or BHT for further follow-up. Remember to fill out the forms listed below the table. |
| Employees / students at UiB | Emergency room Address: | Take the "0" sample | The individual is responsible for contacting a GP or BHT for further follow-up. Remember to fill out the forms listed below the table. |
- Remember to fill out and bring the self-declaration form (NO only).
- For sampling at an outpatient clinic, print out, fill out and bring the requisition form (NO only).
- If needed: consent form for blood test (NO only)
- Fill out the electronic HSE nonconformance form.
- Fill out the damage form to NAV (NO only) in cooperation with the nearest manager/head of administration on the unit.
In case of known hepatitis B or hepatitis C:
Contact Bergen Emergency Room.
At risk of HIV / retrovirus exposure:
Contact Haukeland University Hospital immediately on tel. +47 55 97 50 00 and ask to speak to the on-call infection doctor.
Preventive treatment should be started within 4 hours and no later than 48 hours.
Follow-up of the injury
Further follow-up is an indivitual responsibility, and further process depends on the type of exposure the employee has been exposed to.
Please contact:
GP: Contact your GP via "Helsenorge" for further follow-up.
BHT: If necessary, contact BHT for further follow-up.
- Email: bht@uib.no (NB! do not write sensitive information in the email)
The emergency room: If the "0" test is taken at the Emergency Room, any further treatment will be assessed there.
Follow-up from BHT:
If you have contacted BHT for further follow-up, BHT will follow up the damage and you will receive a summons for further follow-up. It is important to show up for the follow-up hours to which one is summoned, so that any measures can be taken.
Follow-up from the unit:
The manager with personnel responsibility helps with filling in and sending the damage form to NAV (NO only). The employer follows up the employee / student in the event of any sick leave or other needs in connection with the injury.
Contact:
Questions regarding cut and stab injuries, Contact the Occupational Health Service
NB! do not write sensitive information in the email.
