How to remove a tick from a person in a hospital? - briefly
Use sterile tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure; then clean the bite site with an appropriate antiseptic and record the procedure in the patient’s chart.
How to remove a tick from a person in a hospital? - in detail
Removing a feeding tick from a patient in a clinical setting requires sterile technique, precise instruments, and careful handling to avoid pathogen transmission.
The procedure begins with preparation. Assemble disposable fine‑point tweezers or a specialized tick‑removal device, sterile gauze, antiseptic solution, gloves, and a sharps container. Verify patient identity, explain the process, and obtain verbal consent. Perform hand hygiene and don gloves before approaching the site.
- Expose the tick by gently parting clothing or skin folds; avoid compressing the body part.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible, holding the mouthparts, not the abdomen, to prevent crushing.
- Apply steady, downward pressure while pulling straight upward with continuous force; avoid twisting or jerking motions.
- Once the tick separates, release the instrument and place the specimen in a labeled container for possible laboratory analysis.
- Disinfect the bite area with an appropriate antiseptic; cover with sterile gauze if bleeding occurs.
- Dispose of used tweezers or device in a sharps container; discard gloves and perform hand hygiene.
After extraction, inspect the wound for remaining mouthparts. If any fragment remains, repeat the removal process or refer to a wound‑care specialist. Document the incident: date, time, anatomical location, tick identification (if known), and patient’s allergic history. Advise the patient on signs of infection or tick‑borne disease and schedule a follow‑up appointment within 48–72 hours.
Avoid methods such as burning, applying petroleum jelly, or using fingers to pinch the tick, as these increase the risk of mouthpart retention and pathogen release. Ensure that the removal instrument is sterile; reuse of non‑sterile tools can introduce secondary infection.