Blood Borne Blood Borne PathogensPathogens

What You Need to KnowWhat You Need to Know

Cynthia DiLaura Devore, MD, FAAPCynthia DiLaura Devore, MD, FAAP

Carl M. Devore, MD, MPHCarl M. Devore, MD, MPH

Why are we reviewing this Why are we reviewing this topic?topic?

Every employee needs to know how to stay Every employee needs to know how to stay safe in the workplacesafe in the workplace

In a school setting, there is a potential for In a school setting, there is a potential for exposure to blood and bloody body fluids exposure to blood and bloody body fluids that might be contaminated with a blood that might be contaminated with a blood borne pathogen.borne pathogen.

OSHA – the Occupational Safety and HealthOSHA – the Occupational Safety and Health

Organization (federal government) requiresOrganization (federal government) requires

safety training for all employeessafety training for all employees

What are blood borne What are blood borne pathogens?pathogens?

Viral infections that are transmitted from Viral infections that are transmitted from person to person via blood or bloody body fluid person to person via blood or bloody body fluid in the workplace are considered blood borne in the workplace are considered blood borne pathogens. pathogens.

These diseases are not easy to “catch”, but These diseases are not easy to “catch”, but once contracted, cannot be cured with once contracted, cannot be cured with medications, making prevention the primary medications, making prevention the primary prioritypriority

Examples of blood borne pathogens include Examples of blood borne pathogens include – Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV), Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV), – Hepatitis B Hepatitis B – Hepatitis CHepatitis C

Prevalence and RiskPrevalence and Risk

In a school setting the prevalence of HIV,In a school setting the prevalence of HIV,

Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C is lowHepatitis B, and Hepatitis C is low

compared with other environmentscompared with other environments

The risk of contracting these diseases The risk of contracting these diseases cancan

be virtually eliminated by following be virtually eliminated by following simplesimple

precautions outlined by OSHA calledprecautions outlined by OSHA called

““Standard Precautions”Standard Precautions”

OSHA Requirements for OSHA Requirements for EmployersEmployers

Offer pre-exposure Hep B vaccinations to Offer pre-exposure Hep B vaccinations to anyone with routine duties that place an anyone with routine duties that place an employee at risk of blood or body fluid employee at risk of blood or body fluid exposure to a blood borne pathogen. Post exposure to a blood borne pathogen. Post exposure vaccines for all others which exposure vaccines for all others which appears to work as well. (If you are unsure if appears to work as well. (If you are unsure if your job qualifies, ask your supervisor.) your job qualifies, ask your supervisor.)

Offer personal protective devices, such as Offer personal protective devices, such as gloves, goggles, or masks, as a precaution. gloves, goggles, or masks, as a precaution.

Educate workers to use cautious work Educate workers to use cautious work practices such as standard precautions and practices such as standard precautions and judicious avoidance to reduce risk of judicious avoidance to reduce risk of exposureexposure

Standard PrecautionsStandard Precautions

Treat everyone’s blood as though it is Treat everyone’s blood as though it is infected with a blood borne pathogen.infected with a blood borne pathogen.

Judicious AvoidanceJudicious Avoidance Use judicious avoidance for everyone Use judicious avoidance for everyone

– Stay away from blood, and call for help if Stay away from blood, and call for help if you do not know how to protect yourself you do not know how to protect yourself

– Use barriers and personal protective Use barriers and personal protective devices whenever you encounter blood or a devices whenever you encounter blood or a potentially infectious spill for everyone, or potentially infectious spill for everyone, or stay away and call for helpstay away and call for help

– Stay away from spills if it is not part of your Stay away from spills if it is not part of your job description or training; call for helpjob description or training; call for help

– Properly dispose of contaminated materials Properly dispose of contaminated materials as hazardous waste or check with your as hazardous waste or check with your supervisorsupervisor

Hand WashingHand Washing

Use scrupulous hand washing with warm Use scrupulous hand washing with warm water (cold works, too) and soap when water (cold works, too) and soap when hands are dirty or contaminated, hands are dirty or contaminated,

Scrub all hand surfaces for 30 seconds (sing Scrub all hand surfaces for 30 seconds (sing Happy Birthday twice) and rinse wellHappy Birthday twice) and rinse well

Use 60% or higher alcohol based hand Use 60% or higher alcohol based hand sanitizers if soap and water are not sanitizers if soap and water are not availableavailable

What if I think I was What if I think I was exposed?exposed?

Wash contaminated area immediately and Wash contaminated area immediately and thoroughly as describedthoroughly as described

If eye splash, rinse eye with lukewarm water, If eye splash, rinse eye with lukewarm water, water station water, or eye cup or eye bottle water station water, or eye cup or eye bottle designed for that purpose for at least 5 min.designed for that purpose for at least 5 min.

If mouth splash, rinse mouth repeatedly for If mouth splash, rinse mouth repeatedly for at least five minutesat least five minutes

Seek medical attention or guidance from the Seek medical attention or guidance from the school nurse or your medical provider that school nurse or your medical provider that dayday

Notify your supervisor that dayNotify your supervisor that day

SummarySummary Ask your supervisor if you are eligible for Hep B Ask your supervisor if you are eligible for Hep B

vaccine prophylaxisvaccine prophylaxis Treat everyone as though they might have a blood Treat everyone as though they might have a blood

borne pathogenborne pathogen Avoid contact, use barriers, dispose of Avoid contact, use barriers, dispose of

contaminated materials, and call for helpcontaminated materials, and call for help Use excellent hand washing with soap and water or Use excellent hand washing with soap and water or

60% or higher alcohol based hand sanitizer60% or higher alcohol based hand sanitizer If you suspect an exposure, clean yourself If you suspect an exposure, clean yourself

carefully, seek medical guidance assistance that carefully, seek medical guidance assistance that dayday

Notify your school nurse and supervisor Notify your school nurse and supervisor immediatelyimmediately

Questions?Questions?

If you have any questions about blood If you have any questions about blood borne pathogens, please contact your borne pathogens, please contact your school nurseschool nurse

If you have any questions about your If you have any questions about your job responsibilities, or your eligibility for job responsibilities, or your eligibility for Hepatitis B prophylaxis, please contact Hepatitis B prophylaxis, please contact your supervisoryour supervisor