The patient is reassured that her risk of contracting HIV is negligible. She looks a little sheepish when she tells you, “In all the commotion I knocked over the urinal and spilled the patient’s urine on my leg.” She changed clothes and washed her leg. You inspect her and find some eczema in the area where the urine was spilled. Now, you recommend that she:
ExplanationYour patient now has an area of nonintact skin, which is a concern. However, urine is not considered infectious unless it is grossly bloody. Other bodily fluids not considered infectious: feces, vomitus, sputum, tears, sweat, nasal secretions, and saliva. Any visibly bloody fluids, blood, semen, and vaginal secretions are all considered infectious. Other bodily fluids not already mentioned (eg, CSF, amniotic fluid) should be considered potentially infectiou