A student brought glucose tests to the science fair at Colégio-Curso Tamandaré, in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, in Rio's Southwest Zone, last Saturday, and administered the tests to attendees of the event without changing the needles of the three lancets used. At least 23 people were left vulnerable to infections after the incident.
Based on Ministry of Health guidelines, it is recommended that all people who were pricked seek health facilities within 72 hours to evaluate the need to start the Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) protocol. GLOBO consulted materials from the agency and spoke with Tânia Vergara, vice-president of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases (SBI), to understand how treatment works in this type of situation.
The guidance is that those affected be monitored for at least 90 days after exposure, the period necessary to identify possible infections such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. The monitoring includes periodic tests and clinical follow-up to ensure that any contamination is detected and treated early.
The case raised concerns among health authorities and parents of students at the institution, who were advised to seek immediate medical care. The situation highlights the risks of medical procedures performed without proper biosafety precautions, even in a school setting.
