Download Bloodborne Pathogens

Bloodborne
Pathogens
Introduction
Exposure to blood and other
potentially infectious materials
is a major concern to
educational institutions and
their employees, particularly for
those who respond to medical
incidents.
Introduction
 Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms
such as viruses or bacteria that are carried in
blood and can cause disease in people
Malaria
Syphilis
Brucellosis
Hepatitis B (HBV)
Hepatitis C (HCV)
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Bloodborne Diseases - Hepatitis B and
Hepatitis C
 Hepatitis B (HBV) is a virus that causes:
 Inflammation
of the liver.
 Can cause liver cell damage leading to cirrhosis and
cancer
 HBV infection can cause illness ranging from:



mild (tiredness and flu-like symptoms),
severe (severe abdominal symptoms, fever, yellow skin,
dark urine, muscle aches and rash),
to no symptoms at all. Symptoms can occur 1 to 6 months
after infection. HBV infection can cause chronic liver
disease.
Bloodborne Diseases - Hepatitis B and
Hepatitis C
 Carriers and people with HBV illness can
spread the disease to other people. HBV is
transmitted:
By blood, semen, or vaginal secretions
during sexual contact
Through sharing contaminated needles
Through transfusion of infected blood
and accidental needle sticks
Bloodborne Diseases - Hepatitis B and
Hepatitis C
 Through sharing contaminated instruments
used for tattooing, ear piercing, or personal
items like razors or toothbrushes
 Through spills of blood or wound drainage
in the eyes or mouth or broken skin
 From an infected mother to her child during
birth and/or during breast-feeding
Hepatitis C
 HCV is also a virus that causes inflammation
of the liver.
 The virus can cause liver cell damage,
leading to cirrhosis and cancer.
 The symptoms of HCV infection are the
same as those for HBV
 Contact with infected blood is the most
common method of transmission.
Bloodborne Diseases - HIV
 The Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV) can cause the illness known as
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome)
 AIDS can develop as long as 7 to 10
years after a person has become
infected with HIV.
Bloodborne Diseases - HIV
 May carry the virus without developing
symptoms for several years
 Will eventually develop AIDS
 May suffer from flu-like symptoms, fever,
diarrhea, and fatigue
 May develop AIDS-related illnesses
including neurological problems, cancer,
and other opportunistic infections
Bloodborne Diseases - HIV
 HIV virus is transmitted by sexual or blood contact
with HIV infected persons in these ways:
By blood, semen, or vaginal secretions during
sexual contact
Through sharing contaminated needles
Through transfusion of infected blood (rarely
occurs today)
From an infected mother to her child during
birth and/or during breast-feeding
Bloodborne Diseases - HIV
 Research has shown that HIV is not transmitted through
nonsexual or non-blood contact
 HIV is easily washed away with soap and water and killed
by ordinary household bleach
 Research has also shown that you cannot catch HIV
 From touching HIV-infected people or eating food
prepared by HIV-infected people
 From mosquito bites, toilet seats, drinking fountains or
swimming pools
 By giving (donating) blood
Bloodborne Pathogens
MODES OF
TRANSMISSION
Modes of Transmission
 Bloodborne pathogens such as HBV, HCV,
and HIV can be transmitted
An accidental injury by a sharp object
contaminated with blood or other
infectious material. A sharp is basically
anything that can pierce or puncture the
skin and includes things like needles,
knives, razor blades, broken glass,
scalpels, scissors.
Modes of Transmission
 Getting blood or other infectious material in open
cuts, nicks, and skin abrasions Getting blood or other
infectious material in the eyes, nose, or mouth
 Indirect transmission can occur by touching a
contaminated object or surface and then transferring
the infectious material to your mouth, eyes, nose, or
open skin.
Modes of Transmission
 Anytime there is a blood-to-blood contact
with infected blood or body fluids, there is a
potential for transmission
providing first aid to a student in the
classroom
picking up broken glass
handling needles
or cleaning up blood from a spill.
Modes of Transmission
 Unbroken skin forms an impervious barrier
against bloodborne pathogens
 infected blood can enter your system through:
Open sores
Cuts
Abrasions
Acne
Any sort of damaged or broken skin such as
sunburn or blisters
Work Practices & Engineering Controls
 ''Universal Precautions''
 Prevention Strategy
 Treat all potentially infectious material treated as if
it is infectious
Personal Protective Equipment
 To protect yourself, it is essential to have a barrier
between you and the potentially infectious material.
 Always
wear personal protective equipment in an
exposure situation
 Remove PPE that is torn or punctured, or has lost its
ability to function as a barrier to bloodborne pathogens
Personal Protective Equipment
 Replace PPE that is torn or
punctured
 Remove PPE before leaving the
work area
Personal Protective Equipment
(Cont.)
GLOVES
Gloves
 Gloves should be made of latex, nitrile, rubber, or
other impervious material.
 Double gloving can provide an additional layer of
protection
 If you know you have cuts or sores on your hands,
you should cover these with a bandage
Gloves
 You should always inspect your gloves for tears or
punctures before putting them on.
 If a glove is damaged, don’t use it!
Hygiene Practices
 Hand washing is one of the most important (and
easiest) practices used to prevent transmission of
bloodborne pathogens.
 Use soft, antibacterial soap
 Avoid harsh, abrasive soaps, as these may open
fragile scabs or other sores.
 Hands should be washed immediately (or as soon
as feasible) after removal of gloves or other
personal protective equipment
Hygiene Practices
 If you are working in an area where there is
reasonable likelihood of exposure, you should
never:
Eat
 Drink
 Smoke
 Apply cosmetics or lip balm
 Handle contact lenses

Decontamination and
Sterilization
Decontamination and Sterilization
 Decontamination should be accomplished
by using:
A solution of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite
(household bleach / Clorox) diluted
between 1:10 and 1:100 with water. The
standard recommendation is to use at
least a quarter cup of bleach per one
gallon of water.
Decontamination and Sterilization
 Lysol or some other EPA-registered
disinfectant. Check the label of all
disinfectants to make sure they meet this
requirement. If a product is registered as a
disinfectant/sanitizer it will have an EPA
number on the product label.
Decontamination and Sterilization
 If you are cleaning up a spill of blood, you
can carefully cover the spill with paper
towels or rags, then gently pour the 10%
solution of bleach over the towels or rags,
and leave it for at least 10 minutes
 This will help ensure that any pathogens are
killed before you actually begin cleaning or
wiping up the material.
Decontamination and Sterilization
 Any materials you use to clean up a
spill of blood or potentially infectious
materials must be decontaminated
immediately
 This would include mops, sponges, re-
usable gloves, buckets, pails, etc.
Sharps
NEEDLES
BROKEN GLASSWARE
Needles
 Needles must be disposed of in approved
sharps containers.
 Needles should never be replaced.
 Needles should be moved only by using a
mechanical device or tool such as forceps, pliers, or
broom and dustpan.
 Never break or shear needles
Needles
 Needles shall be disposed of in labeled
sharps containers only.
 Sharps containers shall be closable,
puncture-resistant, leak-proof on sides and
bottom, and must be labeled or color-coded.
Needles
 When sharps containers are being moved from the
area of use, the containers should be closed
immediately before removal or replacement to
prevent spillage or protrusion of contents during
handling or transport.
Broken Glassware
 Broken Glassware should not be picked up directly
with the hands. Sweep or brush the material into a
dustpan.
 Uncontaminated broken glassware may be disposed
of in a closable, puncture resistant container such as
a cardboard box or a coffee can.
Signs, Labels & Color Coding
Signs, Labels & Color Coding
 Labels should display the universal biohazard
symbol should be displayed for:
 Regulated waste
Any liquid or semi-liquid blood or other potentially infectious
materials
 Contaminated items that would release blood or other potentially
infectious materials in a liquid or semi liquid state if compressed

Regulated waste
 Regulated waste
Items
that are caked with dried blood or
other potentially infectious materials and
are capable of releasing these materials
during handling
Contaminated sharps
Pathological and microbiological wastes
containing blood or other potentially
infectious materials
Non-regulated waste
 anything that does not fit the above definition for
regulated waste
 It is considered non-regulated and is therefore
treated as routine trash (with a few extra
precautions).
 Most waste that is generated in school
districts is considered non-regulated waste
Non-regulated waste
 Non-regulated waste includes items such as towels
or rags used to clean up a blood spill, items used to
provide first aid such as gauze or bandages, mop
heads, and trash from restrooms
 Red biohazards bags should not be used for
non-regulated waste
Exposure Incidents
 If an exposure incident does occur, you
should report it to your supervisor
immediately
Document the route(s) of exposure and
the circumstances under which the
exposure incident occurred.
Identify and document the source
individual unless such documentation is
impossible or prohibited by law.
Exposure Incidents
 Test the source individual’s blood for HBV, HCV and
HIV as soon as possible after consent is obtained.
 If the source individual is known to be positive for
HBV, HCV or HIV, testing for that virus need not be
done.
Exposure Incidents
 Collect your blood as soon feasible
 Test it after your consent is obtained.
 If you consent to baseline blood collection, but do
not give consent at that time for HIV serological
testing, your blood sample will be kept for at least 90
days.
 If, within 90 days of the incident, you decide to
consent to have the baseline sample tested, such
testing shall be done as soon as possible, and at no
cost to you.
Exposure Incidents
 Administer post exposure medical care
including medications, when medically
indicated, as recommended by the US Public
Health Service.
 Provide counseling.
 Evaluate reported illnesses
Hepatitis B Vaccinations
 Anyone who is determined to have “occupation
exposure” to blood or other potential infectious
materials shall be offered the Hepatitis B vaccine
series at no cost unless:
 They have previously received the vaccine series
 Antibody testing has revealed they are immune
 The vaccine is not recommended for medical reasons
Hepatitis B Vaccinations
 Occupational exposure
reasonably
anticipated skin, eye, mucous
membrane, or parenteral (skin piercing)
contact with blood
or
other potentially infectious material that
may result from the performance of an
employee’s duties
Hepatitis B Vaccinations
 your employer must offer the vaccine to you, you do
not have to accept that offer
 if you decline the initial offer, you may choose to
receive the series at anytime during your
employment thereafter
Hepatitis B Vaccinations
 The Hepatitis B vaccination is given in a series of
three shots.
 The second shot is given one month after the first
 The third shot follows five months after the second.
Conclusion
 Conducting your job and helping others
should not be something that puts your
health at risk. Taking the right
precautions to prevent exposure to
blood will help keep you, and others,
safe and healthy.
THE END