Download Bloodborne Pathogens - General

SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Blood borne Pathogens
in the School Setting
Who is Affected?
• Occupational exposure results from doing one’s job
JOB CLASSIFICATIONS
- Coaches
- Special Ed Teachers
- Custodians
- Health Assistants
- Paraprofessionals
- Phys Ed Staff
- Bus Drivers
• Potentially infectious
materials
– Blood
– Urine, vomit, or other body
fluids
– Especially when blood is
present
Epidemiology & symptoms
of blood borne diseases
 Blood
borne pathogens
• Infectious organisms present in
human blood that cause disease
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
– Symptoms: fatigue, stomach pain, loss of
appetite, nausea
– Acute Hepatitis, Chronic Carriers, or
Unaffected
– Not easily killed outside body, can survive
up to 7 days in dried blood
– Vaccine Preventable
Epidemiology & symptoms of
blood borne diseases (cont’d)
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
–
–
–
–
Attacks immune system
Not vaccine preventable
Virus is killed easily outside the body
Symptoms: weakness, fever, nausea, sore throat,
can lead to AIDS.
- Hepatitis C
– May be asymptomatic for 20-30 years
– Symptoms Include: fatigue, weight loss, nausea,
darkened urine, jaundice, stomach pain
– No vaccine
– 75-85% with positive test develop chronic
hepatitis-----> liver disease
WHAT IS A BBP
EXPOSURE?


The Infectious body fluid must enter the
bloodstream to cause infection.
It can enter through these routes:
–
–
–
–
–
Eyes
Mouth
Mucous membrane
Non-intact skin
Piercing of skin or mucous membranes
(bites, needle stick)
When can Exposure
Occur?

First aid situations
• Accidents or injuries in
sports, on playground,
in shops, or in health
offices.

Other workplace situations
•
•
•
•
Body Fluid or Blood cleanup
Broken Science glassware
Handling Sharps
Dealing with violent behavior
What Can I Do to
Protect Myself?


Take advantage of Hepatitis B Vaccination
Before performing clean up or providing
first aid – PUT ON GLOVES! Always think
of yourself first.

When administering first aid, instruct
injured person in self-management

Always practice universal precautions

Clean-up involving blood requires special
procedures

Most Important - Wash your Hands!!!
Handwashing is Important!
 Locations
 Portable
facilities
 Sanitized
Hand Wipes
How Should Contaminated
Items be Disposed Of?
 Regulated
Waste
vs. Non-regulated
• Materials saturated to the point of
dripping blood or including body
tissue or parts.
• Most of the waste generated in a
school is non-regulated waste and
can be placed in regular trash
Disposal Continued



Place contaminated gloves
and absorbent material in a
bag and place in lined trash
container.
Do not place red
“Biohazard” bags in regular
trash.
Follow proper sanitization
procedures for
contaminated surfaces or
objects.
Disposal Continued
 Sharps
Containers
• Located in each Health Office
• For contaminated sharps such as
needles, razor blades, glass
• Regulated Waste, must be properly
disposed of as Biohazard Waste.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
 Available
free of charge:
• Prevention - for employees who
have risk of occupational
exposure.
• Employees eligible for the vaccine
are Special Education Teachers,
Coaches, Custodians, Health
Assistants, Paraprofessionals, PE
Staff.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Hepatitis B Vaccine – A series of
three shots taking a total of 6
months to complete
 Employees refusing the vaccine
must sign a declination form

Exposure incident
response

Potential exposure incidents involving
fluid-to-fluid contact:
• Eyes, mouth, mucous membranes
• non-intact skin
• parenteral contact (puncture, bite)

Flush the exposed area with water
immediately
 Report
the incident to your
supervisor and/or District Nurse!
BBP Summary
• Implementing a Successful BBP Program
includes all of the following:
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–
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Written Program
Annual Employee Training
Hepatitis B vaccination
Record keeping
Engineering and work practice controls
Personal protective equipment
Housekeeping, cleaning schedule
Procedures for evaluating an exposure
incident
– Post-exposure evaluation and follow-up
The End

Questions?

Contact Elen Stark @ x1167