These medicines should be started within hours of the accident. You will have repeat blood tests for six to nine months, depending on the risks posed by the source patient. Thus, if any infection develops, it will be found as soon as possible. If your skin has no breaks, cracks or rashes, you have virtually no risk of getting a blood-borne infection despite the splash of blood. If you do receive an exposure to your skin, immediately wash the affected area thoroughly.
Tuberculosis is an infection caused by slow-growing bacteria.
These bacteria can infect the lungs or any other body structures, including the brain, the skeleton and the lymphatic system. You could catch tuberculosis by breathing in infected droplets that get into the air when infected people cough. It's important to know which patients might have tuberculosis. If you work around these patients, wear a protective mask. As a health care worker, you should have a tuberculosis skin test once or twice a year.