As a nurse working in the intensive care unit, your patient assignment today is to care for a critically ill patient who is known to be HIV positive and hepatitis B and C positive. You are cleaning up...

As a nurse working in the intensive care unit, your patient assignment today is to care for a critically ill patient who is known to be HIV positive and hepatitis B and C positive. You are cleaning up after assisting a first-year resident with the insertion of a central line and, as you are putting the disposable drapes into the trash, you feel a sharp pain in your right hand. As you pull your hands away you see a needle protruding through the glove into your hand. You report the incident to your supervisor and report to the emergency department per exposure protocol. The emergency department physician orders you to have antibody testing for anti-HBsAg, to have baseline HIV testing, and to receive gamma globulin and antiviral prophylaxis.

1. What is the rationale for the hepatitis B testing?

2. What is the rationale for the HIV testing?

3. Why is gamma globulin ordered? 4. Why is antiviral prophylaxis appropriate?