Blood borne Pathogens Background Occupational Safety and Health

Blood borne Pathogens

Background § Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) § Blood borne pathogen standard developed December 6, 1991 § Requires use of Standard Precautions § Revisions increase prevention awareness § Needle Stick Safety and Prevention Act of 2000

What are Blood borne Pathogens? § Microorganisms found in human blood, blood components and body fluids. § Cause blood borne diseases in humans. § Primary concerns: § Hepatitis B § Hepatitis C § Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Who is at Risk? § Health care workers § Police officers § Medical equipment personnel § Correctional facility personnel § Fire fighters

How are They Transported? § Contaminated needle-stick injuries § Most efficient mode of transmission § Contamination of eyes, mouth or other mucous membranes § Contamination of non-intact skin (cuts, scrapes, burns, dermatitis) § Job duties (first aid, drawing blood, CPR, blood spill clean-up)

Hepatitis B (HBV) § Virus infects liver cells causing acute/chronic liver disease § People can be carriers of the virus

HBV symptoms § Some show no symptoms § Mild flu-like illness § Severe symptoms: § Fatigue, anorexia, nausea, dark urine, abdominal pain, fever, joint pain, jaundice

HBV Vaccine § Pre-exposure vaccination is the most effective preventative measure § Vaccinations are free for employees with occupational exposure § Consists of series of three doses over a period of three months § Boosters § CDC has no recommendation concerning boosters

Hepatitis C (HCV) § Most common blood borne pathogen in US § Is primarily transmitted through repeated direct percutaneous exposures to blood § Injection drug use § Most acute cases are asymptomatic § Chronic cases progress to cirrhosis or primary liver cancer § Concurrent alcohol use significantly increases progression of disease

HCV § There is no vaccine for HCV § Best prevented by following Standard/Universal Precautions § Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) § Handwashing

HIV § The human retrovirus known to cause Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) § Primary transmission via sex, injection drug use and perinatally § Symptoms § Flu-like symptoms initially then can become dormant (not active)

Exposure § Report § Per departmental reporting policy § Lab testing § Per OSHA recommendations § Post exposure treatment to prevent or inhibit infection § Per exposure protocol

Standard Precautions § Fundamental concept: § All blood or body fluids are treated as potentially infectious § Helps to prevent contact with blood or Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM) § PPE § Gloves, goggles, mask, hand washing

Summary Questions?