Final answer:
An exposure incident refers to the contact with infectious materials like broken skin, blood, or body fluids during a worker's duties, often concerning health-care professionals who must take precautions such as using PPE and following treatment protocols after exposure.
Step-by-step explanation:
A exposure incident is contact with nonintact (broken) skin, blood, body fluid, or other infectious materials as a result of the performance of a worker's duties. An exposure can occur in various ways including contact with body fluids such as blood, semen, or saliva, which can happen during activities like IV drug use, sexual transmission, or while health-care workers are treating infected patients.
It is vital for health-care workers to use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and face protection, and to follow protocols for disinfection and sterilization to reduce the risk of transmitting infections like hepatitis B virus (HBV). In case of an exposure, immediate washing of the skin and post-exposure treatments, such as with hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and vaccination, are recommended practices.