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Facts About Bloodborne Diseases
Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans. They include hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS.
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV): Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV):
Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver. Human Immunodeficiency Virus attacks the body’s Immune system, causing the disease known as AIDS, The onset of symptoms may appear 1 to 6 months or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS after exposure to the virus. Victims usually develop life-threatening infections or cancer. A person with HIV may carry the virus Symptoms may include: without developing symptoms for 10 years or more. *fatigue As the immune system weakens, the following symptoms *mild fever may appear: *muscle or joint aches *loss of appetite *swollen lymph glands in the neck, underarm or groin *nausea *recurrent fever, including “night sweats” *vomiting *constant fatigue *abdominal pain *diarrhea *jaundice (yellow color of the skin and whites of the eyes) *loss of appetite *darkened urine *rapid loss of weight for no apparent reason *white spots or unusual blemishes in the mouth
Some who contact hepatitis B become carriers, passing the disease on to others. Carriers also are at higher risk for other liver ailments which can be fatal, including cirrhosis of the liver and primary liver cancer.
How Bloodborne Pathogens are Transmitted
You can contract Hepatitis B and HIV infections when: *infectious body fluids and tissues contact your eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes *infectious body fluids and tissues contact open cuts, scratches and other breaks in your skin *your skin or mucous membranes are pierced by a contaminated needle, broken glass, or other sharp object
Potentially infectious materials include: *blood *any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood *exposed tissue from an open wound *semen *vaginal secretions *amniotic fluid (fluid around a fetus, present during pregnancy) *cerebrospinal fluid (fluid from the area of the brain and spine) *synovial fluid (fluid from the area of joints and tendons) *pleural fluid (fluid from the chest cavity) *pericardial fluid (fluid from the area of the heart) *peritoneal fluid (fluid from the abdominal cavity) *severed tissues or organs *saliva in dental procedures
In situations where it is not possible to distinguish among fluids, treat all body fluids as if they are known to be infectious.
How to Reduce Your Risk of Exposure to Blood and Other Potentially Infectious Materials
Follow universal precautions: Treat all human blood and certain body fluids as if they are known to be infected with hepatitis B, HIV and other bloodborne pathogens.
Cover open cuts, scratches, or other wounds in your skin with a bandage, and use protective equipment such as gloves, masks, and gowns whenever you expect contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Wash with soap and water if your skin comes into contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. If blood or other potentially infectious materials contact your eyes or other mucous membranes, flush them with water as soon as possible. Wash your hands immediately after removing protective equipment. If soap and water are not available, use antiseptic towelettes or hand cleaners. Then wash with soap and water as soon as possible.
Remove your clothing if it becomes contaminated, and immediately place the clothing in a leak-proof biohazard bag.
Be careful with needles and other sharp instruments. Do not recap, bend, shear or break needles after use. Dispose of sharp instruments after use in the nearest designated sharps container.
Do not eat, drink, smoke, apply lip balm or cosmetics, or handle contact lenses in areas where there is a risk of exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Do not keep food or drink on shelves, countertops, cabinets, etc. where blood or other potentially infectious materials may be present.
Minimize splashing, spraying, spattering, and generation of droplets in all procedures involving blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Use a brush and dustpan, forceps, tongs, or other mechanical means to pick up potentially contaminated broken glassware. Never pick up by hand, even when wearing gloves.
Clean up spills of blood and other potentially infectious materials immediately with a bleach solution or EPA approved disinfectant. Disposing of Potentially Infectious Waste
Spills of blood and other potentially infectious materials can be decontaminated with a bleach solution or EPA approved disinfectant.
Dispose of regulated waste in leak-proof bags or containers that have been closed to keep the contents from spilling. If the outside of a container becomes contaminated, it must be placed within a second container. Bags and containers must be red in color or marked with the biohazard symbol.
Contaminated sharps must be disposed in a rigid, puncture-proof container which has been closed to prevent leakage. The container must be leak-proof and maintained upright. The container must be color-coded or marked with the biohazard symbol.
Always follow these precautions regarding sharps containers: *Never reach into the container. *Do not overfill the container. *Replace the container when necessary. *Close the lid before handling. *Use a secondary container if there is a chance of leakage.
Contaminated sharps and regulated waste may be disposed in a sanitary landfill, incinerated, or disposed in a hazardous waste disposal facility. Contaminated liquids may be discharged into a sanitary sewer.
Handling Contaminated Laundry
Handle contaminated laundry as little as possible and with a minimum of agitation. Do not sort or rinse except in a designated area. Wear gloves, follow universal precautions, and wash your hands when finished. Wash contaminated laundry in hot water (160 degrees Fahrenheit) for 25 minutes. Contaminated laundry may also be dry-cleaned. Contaminated laundry must be placed in a biohazard bag if it is sent to a commercial cleaning facility.
Personal Protective Equipment
Wear personal protective equipment any time you expect that blood and other potentially infectious materials might contact your work clothes, undergarments, skin, eyes, mouth, or other mucous membranes
Gloves: Use gloves if you expect to have hand contact with blood, other potentially infectious materials, mucous membranes, non-intact skin, or with contaminated surfaces. Also wear gloves when performing vascular access procedures.
Do not wash, decontaminate, or ruse disposable gloves.
If you are allergic to standard gloves, your employer will provide hypoallergenic gloves or similar alternatives.
Eye & Mouth Protection: Use goggles, masks, glasses with side shields, chin-length face shields, etc. when splashes, sprays, splatters, or droplets of blood or other potentially infectious materials pose a hazard to your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Gowns, lab coats, etc.: Use these when you expect that your clothing may become contaminated.
Removing, decontaminating and disposing of personal protective equipment: *Always remove protective equipment before leaving the work area or whenever the protective equipment becomes contaminated. *Remove a garment immediately if becomes penetrated by blood or other potentially infectious materials. *Wash your hands immediately after removing protective equipment. *If soap and water are not available, use antiseptic towlettes or other handwashing measures. Then wash with soap and water as soon as possible. *Place used personal protective equipment in designated containers for storage, decontamination, or disposal.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Hepatitis B vaccination is a noninfectious yeast-based vaccine given in 3 injections in the arm. The second infection is given one month after the first, and the third injection is given six months after the initial dose.
The vaccination is prepared from yeast cultures, rather than human blood or plasma. Thus, there is no risk of contamination from other bloodborne pathogens, nor is there any chance of developing hepatitis B from the vaccine. The vaccine does not harm those who are already immune or who may be hepatitis B carriers.
Over 90% of those vaccinated develop immunity to hepatitis B. It is not clear how long immunity last, so booster shots may be required at some point in time.
If your employer determines that you are likely to be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials because of your job duties, the hepatitis B vaccine will be made available at no cost to you. If booster doses are later recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service, they will be offered as well.
You must sign a declination form if you are eligible for the vaccine, but choose not to receive it. At any time therafter, you may opt to receive the vaccine at no cost.
If you provide first aid as a collateral duty, you will be offered the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours after you have experience an exposure incident. If you have not yet been offered the vaccine, you must report to your supervisor immediately after rendering first aid in a situation involving blood or other potentially infectious materials.
What to do if an Exposure Incident Occurs
Immediately take the following action if you come into contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials through your eyes, mouth, nose, mucous membranes, broken skin, or through a puncture from a needle or other sharp object: *Wash the affected skin with soap and water. *If eyes or other mucous membranes are affected, flush with water. *Contact your immediate supervisor so he/she can make a written report of the incident and refer you to a licensed healthcare professional for medical evaluation and follow-up. Your employer will provide the healthcare professional with information documenting the circumstances of exposure. To the extent possible by law, your employer will also see that the source of individual is tested to determine if he/she is infected with hepatitis B and or HIV.
The medical evaluation and follow-up will include the following at no cost to you: *Your blood will be screened if you so consent. *The health care professional will counsel you about what happened and how to prevent further spread of any potential infection. *The healthcare professional will provide the hepatitis B vaccination, if indicated. *The health care professional will prescribe appropriate treatment and evaluate any reported illness to determine if the symptoms may be related to hepatitis B or HIV.
In order to receive a medical evaluation, you must agree to have blood drawn. However, you have the option to give a blood sample and refuse permission for HIV testing at any time. Your blood sample will be maintained for 90 days in case you change your mind about testing.
The health care professional will give a written report to your employer. The report will identify whether the hepatitis B vaccine was recommended and whether you received it. The report will also note that you were informed of the results of the evaluation and that you were told of any medical conditions resulting from exposure that require further evaluation or treatment. Any added findings bust be kept confidential: your hepatitis B or HIV status will not be reported to your employer.
No one can see your medical records without your written consent.
Your medical records will be kept for the duration of your employment plus 30 years.
District Facilities and Resources
Locations of facilities and resources in this district/building:
Handwashing facilities:
Antiseptic towelettes or hand cleansers:
Disinfectant/cleaning supplies:
Sharps containers, color-coded bags, biohazard labels, designated waste receptacles:
Personal protective equipment:
Contact persons responsible for distributing and maintaining resources in this district/building:
Antiseptic towelettes, hand cleansers, other handwashing supplies:
Disinfectant/cleaning supplies:
Sharps containers, color-coded bags, biohazard labels, designated waste receptacles:
Personal protective equipment:
Person to contact concerning hepatitis B vaccine:
Person to contact concerning disposal of contaminated waste:
Person to contact concerning laundering of contaminated clothing:
Person to contact if an exposure incident occurs |