MACAQUE SPLASH / BITE / SCRATCH POST-EXPOSURE PROCEDURES

Within 5 minutes of possible exposure by splash, bite, or scratch from a macaque, a primate cage, a needle stick, or saliva contamination of an existing wound:

1. For splashes involving ocular areas, thoroughly rinse and flush with an eye solution such as Dacriose or a sterile saline solution for at least 15 minutes. DO NOT DELAY IRRIGATING THE EYE(S).

2. For wounds caused by bites or scratches, thoroughly irrigate the affected area for a minimum of 15 minutes with a disinfectant solution. It is very important that a disinfectant solution be kept at sinks near macaque handling areas. Wound cleansing should begin within two to five minutes of exposure.

3. Use a concentrated soap or detergent such as povidine-iodine (Betadine scrub) or chlorhexidine (Novalsan Scrub). The B virus is readily killed by most detergents and disinfectants. Mechanical scrubbing and flushing is the most effective means of removing the virus before it has an opportunity to enter host cells.

4. After the immediate ocular rinsing or wound cleansing, contact the supervisor and the veterinarian on duty to report the incident. The veterinarian at your site will coordinate the collection of blood and virology samples from the involved macaque. Your supervisor will direct you to an appropriate medical facility where blood and wound virology samples will be collected. If you are directed to off-site medical facilities, it is important that you make sure attending medical personnel understand your B virus exposure risk.

5. It is imperative that medical personnel contact Dr. Julia Hilliard at 404.651.0811. Information regarding step-by-step B virus sampling can be obtained readily at www.gsu.edu/~wwwvir/index.html.

6. After appropriate ocular observation, wound care, and specimen selection, the viral specimens that have been collected according to the guidelines obtained from www.gsu.edu/~wwwvir/index.html should be shipped according to the specific instructions outlined in the site to NIH B Virus Resource Laboratory, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303.

7. The clinic or emergency department will notify your company / site that the specimens have been collected and shipped. You will be scheduled to have drawn a follow-up sample collection in approximately two weeks. The veterinarian will insure that appropriate follow-up samples are collected from the macaque.

8. It is recommended that a prophylaxis treatment using acyclovir be implemented pending tissue sample results.

Remember to treat every exposure as if B virus exposure is probable, not just possible! Safe research saves lives.