Download Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan

Bloodborne Pathogen
Exposure Control Plan
Education is the Key!
A Staff Presentation
For your safety . . .
What are Bloodborne Pathogens?
O Micro-organisms present in blood or bodily fluids
(semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, and saliva) which cause
disease
O The three most dangerous bloodborne pathogens
are HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C; all three are
caused by viruses.
What is a Virus?
O Very primitive, very small germ,
invisible to the eye.
O Can enter body through a cut in the
skin, through the eye or mouth
O Can also be transmitted sexually
HIV & AIDS
O HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s ability to
protect itself against disease.
O HIV causes AIDS, a disease that has no cure.
photo from aids.gov
HIV & AIDS
O HIV is spread through contact with blood and/or
other bodily fluids.
photo from aids.gov
Hepatitis B Virus
O Can be spread through blood, body
fluids or sexual activity
O Causes inflammation of the liver, which is a vital
organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood,
and fights infections
O Can range in severity from a mild
illness lasting a few weeks to a serious,
lifelong illness
O Can result in cirrhosis, cancer, or death
Hepatitis B Virus
O Not everyone has symptoms, especially young
children. Most adults have symptoms that appear
within 3 months of exposure.
O Symptoms include:
O Fever
O Fatigue
O Loss of appetite
O Nausea and/or Vomiting
O
O
O
O
O
Abdominal pain
Grey-colored stools
Dark urine
Joint pain
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin
and eyes)
The best way to prevent a Hepatitis B
infection is to get vaccinated!
Hepatitis C Virus
O Another bloodborne virus that damages
the liver
O Hepatitis C is the most common
chronic (long-term) bloodborne
infection.
O Many who are infected have no
symptoms
O If symptoms occur with acute infection,
they can appear anytime from 2 weeks
to 6 months after exposure.
Hepatitis C Virus
O Symptoms of chronic Hepatitis C can take up to 30 years
to develop
O Damage to the liver can silently occur during this time.
O When symptoms do appear, they are similar to those listed
earlier for Hepatitis B and often are a sign of advanced liver
disease.
O There is NO vaccine to prevent a Hepatitis C infection.
How are Bloodborne Pathogens
Spread on the Job?
Accidents that
break the skin:
•
•
•
•
•
Broken glass
Sharp metal
Needles
Knives
Exposed wires
Indirect transfer of
blood or bodily
fluid to your:
•
•
•
•
Mouth
Eyes
Nose
Open cut
How Can You Prevent Infection?
Understand the dangers & know how to protect
yourself from those dangers!
5 Tactics to Reduce Your Risk
1. Dispose of waste containing
blood and/or other bodily fluids
properly.
O Wear gloves when handling
O Needles, lancets and other “sharps” should be
disposed of in a special “sharps” container
(usually located in the clinic), to avoid accidental
puncture/exposure of others
O Guidelines for use of biohazard bags vs. regular trash?
5 Tactics to Reduce Your Risk
2. Practice good hand-washing /personal
hygiene measures and learn to correctly
(and safely) administer first aid without
contaminating yourself with blood or
bodily fluids.
Hand Washing is Important!
O Wash thoroughly with
soap/water as soon as gloves
are removed
O Immediately wash hands if
there is direct contact with
blood
O Only use hand-sanitizers as a
temporary measure (make sure
at least 60% alcohol content)
Personal Hygiene is Important!
O Unless you’ve just washed
your hands, avoid touching
your eyes, nose, and mouth.
O Apply cosmetics, lip balms,
and contact lenses away
from risk areas
O Keep food and drinks away
from high risk areas
5 Tactics to Reduce Your Risk
3. Implement “Universal Precautions” & use
Personal Protective Equipment
Universal Precautions means that you treat all
blood and other body fluids as possible sources of
contamination and infection, and take measures to
prevent exposure.
Assume that everyone has a communicable disease
- that you don’t want!
ALWAYS use appropriate equipment to
protect yourself when bodily fluids may be
involved!
O Gloves
O Masks
O Goggles
O Mouthpieces (CPR)
Important Info Regarding Gloves
O Wear gloves when you may contact any body fluid
O Cover any hand cuts with bandages before putting
on gloves
O Do not reuse gloves
O Remove properly to avoid exposure to any bodily
fluids remaining on the gloves (see below)
5 Tactics to Reduce Your Risk
4. Good housekeeping
O Clean all equipment and working surfaces
with disinfectant/bleach after contact with
body fluids
O Clean-up broken glass with tongs
or broom and dustpan (wear gloves)
O Use sharps containers
O Handle soiled laundry as little as possible
Clean-up of Body Fluids
O Includes wearing appropriate protective
equipment
O Includes using a bleach or disinfecting solution
O Includes disinfecting mops and cleaning tools
5 Tactics to Reduce Your Risk
5.
Vaccination
O Protect yourself-vaccinate against a Hepatitis B
infection!
Remember…
O Allow students to care for
their own wounds whenever
possible
• pinch own nose in case of
bleeding
• wash own wounds
• apply own Band-Aid
O When you must assist…
• wear gloves
• wash hands with soap &
water immediately
afterwards
What if exposure occurs?
O Report any sharps exposure to the principal, nurse
and RISD Risk Management Department
(469-593-0041)
O RISD has a Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control
Plan (found in the clinic) to address issues of
exposure and prevention.
O A confidential medical evaluation is available to any
employee who has an occupational exposure to
blood and other potentially infectious materials as a
result of exposure to sharps.
The End
Thanks!