Blood Bourne Pathogens

Training

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) causes serious liver disease.

• Symptoms may include:

• Jaundice• Fatigue • Abdominal Pain• Loss of Appetite• Occasional Nausea or Vomiting • Or – NO symptoms at all

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Cont

• Most people infected with HBV recover and clear the infection

• More than 3,000 people die each year from chronic liver disease or liver cancer that the virus causes

• A Vaccine can prevent HBV infection

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) also causes serious liver disease with symptoms similar to HBV.

• Differences between HCV and HBV

• 85% of people infected with HCV have chronic infections• In the US approximately 3 million people are chronically

infected with HCV• Up to 75% of people infected with HCV have no

symptoms• Approximately 800,00 to 1.4 million persons in the US

are chronically infected with HBV• Approximately 50% of people infected with HBV have no

symptoms

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Cont

• HCV is the leading indicator for Liver Transplants

• Every year up to 12,000 people die from HCV related chronic liver disease

• There is NO vaccine for HCV

HIV

HIV attacks the immune system causing it to break down

• Some infected people appear healthy for many years

• Infected people become seriously ill when they lose the ability to fight infections

• Some people develop AIDS

• The CDC estimates that 1,148,200 persons aged 13 and older are living with HIV infection, including 207,600 (18.1%) who are unaware of their infection. • There is NO vaccine to prevent HIV infection

HBV, HCV, HIV

All three diseases, HBV, HCV and HIV, spread most easily through contact with blood or Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM).

• You can be exposed to these diseases if a contaminated needle or sharp punctures your skin

• You can also be exposed if blood or OPIM splashes on your broken skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose or mouth)

• Safety precautions decrease the number of exposures on the job (based on OSHA Blood Borne Pathogens Standard and CDC Guidelines)

Prevention

HBV Vaccine Series

• The HBV vaccine series consists of three shots

• Since 1982, over one billion doses of HBV have been used worldwide. In many countries, where 8 to 15% of children used to become chronically infected with the Hepatitis B Virus, vaccination has reduced the rate of chronic infection to less than 1% among immunized children.

Prevention

Standard Precautions

• Treat all bodily fluids (OPIM) as if they are infected

• Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when touching blood or OPIM, secretions, excretions and contaminated surfaces. Examples of PPE are:

• Gloves, gowns, lab coats, face shields, mouth pieces on resuscitation bags, and pocket masks

PreventionStandard Precautions

• Gloves are the most common type of PPE

• When gloving up ensure that you follow these steps:

• Cover any cuts or open areas on your hands• Gloves should fit snuggly and extend above your wrists• Wear them only once and then throw them away• Change gloves between each patient• If a glove tears or becomes contaminated remove it and

replace with a clean glove• Do not touch the outside of used gloves with your bare

hands

• Always use PPE when resuscitating a patient

Prevention

Standard Precautions

• Clean hands are the single most important factor in preventing the spread of infection

• When your hands are visibly soiled you must wash with soap and water

• Wet hands• Apply recommended amount of soap• Rub vigorously for at least 15 seconds over all surfaces of

hands and fingers• Rinse thoroughly • Dry with a disposable towel• Turn off faucet with a clean dry disposable towel

Prevention

Standard Precautions

• If hands are not visibly soiled follow these steps:

• Decontaminate hands using an alcohol based hand rub

• May use alcohol cleanser up to 4 times in a row, then you need to use soap and water

• Cover all surfaces of hands and fingers until all surfaces of hands are dry

Prevention

Standard Precautions

• Use lotion as often as necessary to prevent skin breakdown

• Wash hands before eating

• Wash hands after using restrooms

• Decontaminate hands after touching a patient or medical equipment

Prevention

Standard Precautions

• DO NOT eat, drink or handle contact lenses, use cosmetics or store food and drink where exposure is possible

• Never mouth pipette or mouth suction blood or OPIM

• Transport any specimens of blood or OPIM in closed or leak proof containers while wearing gloves

PreventionStandard Precautions

• Do not let contaminated patient equipment touch you, other people or objects

• Once equipment is used, make sure it is discarded or properly cleaned before using on another patient

• Clean all blood and fluid spills promptly

• Wear gloves and use care when handling contaminated laundry or biohazardous waste

• Trash may contain sharps, so do not push it down with hands or feet

• Instead gently shake down waste• Carry waste bags by the top and away from your body

Prevention

Sharps Safety

• ½ Million sharps related injuries happen each year

• Use safety needles or needle-less systems for withdrawal of body fluid accessing a vein or artery, or administration of medication or fluids

• Never shear, break, bend or recap contaminated sharps

• Never re-use disposable sharps

Prevention

Sharps Safety

• Discard sharps immediately after use in an appropriate container

• DO NOT overfill sharps containers

• NEVER reach into a sharps container

• Pick up broken glass (also a sharp) with a broom and dust pan or forceps, never use your hands

• Report all sharps injuries to your manager

PreventionExposure Control Plan

• What to do if exposed:

• Immediately wash affected skin, needle sticks and cuts with soap and water

• Flush eyes and exposed mucous membranes with large amounts of water

• Report the exposure immediately• Any documentation and necessary treatment should

begin right away

• Document sharp injuries in Sharps Injury Log

• Date and Time• Type of Sharp used• Evaluate effectiveness of any safety device used• Note how the injury could have been prevented if

possible