Blood borne PathogensBlood borne Pathogens

BackgroundBackground

Occupational Safety and Health Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)Administration (OSHA) Blood borne pathogen standard developed Blood borne pathogen standard developed

December 6, 1991December 6, 1991 Requires use of Standard PrecautionsRequires use of Standard Precautions

Revisions increase prevention awarenessRevisions increase prevention awareness Needle Stick Safety and Prevention Act of Needle Stick Safety and Prevention Act of

20002000

What are Blood borne Pathogens?What are Blood borne Pathogens?

Microorganisms found in human blood, Microorganisms found in human blood, blood components and body fluids.blood components and body fluids. Cause blood borne diseases in humans.Cause blood borne diseases in humans.

Primary concerns:Primary concerns: Hepatitis BHepatitis B Hepatitis CHepatitis C Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Who is at Risk?Who is at Risk?

Health care workersHealth care workers Police officersPolice officers Medical equipment personnelMedical equipment personnel Correctional facility personnelCorrectional facility personnel Fire fightersFire fighters

How are They Transported?How are They Transported?

Contaminated needle-stick injuriesContaminated needle-stick injuries Most efficient mode of transmissionMost efficient mode of transmission

Contamination of eyes, mouth or other Contamination of eyes, mouth or other mucous membranesmucous membranes

Contamination of non-intact skin (cuts, Contamination of non-intact skin (cuts, scrapes, burns, dermatitis)scrapes, burns, dermatitis)

Job duties (first aid, drawing blood, CPR, Job duties (first aid, drawing blood, CPR, blood spill clean-up)blood spill clean-up)

Hepatitis B (HBV)Hepatitis B (HBV)

Virus infects liver cells causing Virus infects liver cells causing acute/chronic liver diseaseacute/chronic liver disease

People can be carriers of the virusPeople can be carriers of the virus

HBV symptomsHBV symptoms

Some show no symptomsSome show no symptoms Mild flu-like illnessMild flu-like illness Severe symptoms:Severe symptoms:

Fatigue, anorexia, nausea, dark urine, Fatigue, anorexia, nausea, dark urine, abdominal pain, fever, joint pain, jaundiceabdominal pain, fever, joint pain, jaundice

HBV VaccineHBV Vaccine

Pre-exposure vaccination is the most Pre-exposure vaccination is the most effective preventative measureeffective preventative measure

Vaccinations are free for employees with Vaccinations are free for employees with occupational exposureoccupational exposure

Consists of series of three doses over a Consists of series of three doses over a period of three monthsperiod of three months

BoostersBoosters CDC has no recommendation concerning CDC has no recommendation concerning

boostersboosters

Hepatitis C (HCV)Hepatitis C (HCV)

Most common blood borne pathogen in USMost common blood borne pathogen in US Is primarily transmitted through repeated direct Is primarily transmitted through repeated direct

percutaneous exposures to bloodpercutaneous exposures to blood Injection drug useInjection drug use

Most acute cases are asymptomaticMost acute cases are asymptomatic Chronic cases progress to cirrhosis or primary Chronic cases progress to cirrhosis or primary

liver cancerliver cancer Concurrent alcohol use significantly increases Concurrent alcohol use significantly increases

progression of diseaseprogression of disease

HCVHCV

There is no vaccine for HCVThere is no vaccine for HCV Best prevented by following Best prevented by following

Standard/Universal PrecautionsStandard/Universal Precautions Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) HandwashingHandwashing

HIVHIV

The human retrovirus known to cause The human retrovirus known to cause Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)(AIDS)

Primary transmission via sex, injection Primary transmission via sex, injection drug use and perinatallydrug use and perinatally

SymptomsSymptoms Flu-like symptoms initially then can become Flu-like symptoms initially then can become

dormant (not active)dormant (not active)

ExposureExposure

ReportReport Per departmental reporting policyPer departmental reporting policy

Lab testingLab testing Per OSHA recommendationsPer OSHA recommendations

Post exposure treatment to prevent or Post exposure treatment to prevent or inhibit infectioninhibit infection Per exposure protocolPer exposure protocol

Standard PrecautionsStandard Precautions

Fundamental concept:Fundamental concept: All blood or body fluids are treated as All blood or body fluids are treated as

potentially infectiouspotentially infectious Helps to prevent contact with blood or Other Helps to prevent contact with blood or Other

Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM)Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM)

PPE PPE Gloves, goggles, mask, hand washingGloves, goggles, mask, hand washing

SummarySummary

Questions?Questions?