A call comes into the station at 0400 hours. The dispatcher sends your engine crew to a shelter for homeless people for an "ill
person". When you enter the shelter, an attendant says, "Hank just came in last night. He lost his job and then his room. He tells us that he can't shake this cough, that it's been troubling him for some time. He's awfully thin, which is to be expected from living on the streets. I found him in the bathroom, on the floor, coughing up blood. I got him back to bed, but I'm worried about him. He's only 21. Could you take a look at him?"
What steps should you take before examining this patient? Why? You believe that you were exposed to this patient's body fluids during the physical exam. After you transfer care of the patient to the EMS ambulance crew, what steps should you take?
In this situation, there are high chances of getting exposed to the possible pathogen by a cough or by touching to the patient that may lead to the infection transmitted from the patient to you, thus, one should use an N-95 mask or respirator or HEPA to protect yourself from any pathogen before examining the breathing or airway of the patient.
If you think you are exposed to the pathogen or infectious agent from the patient one must immediately to the agency as per the guidelines and protocols. Creating a report with the details such as date and time of exposure, exposed to which body fluid or blood, and what is possible details to the local authority of the agency.
