Staying Safe from Bloodborne Pathogens...needle-stick injuries cuts, scrapes and other breaks in the...

Staying Safe from Bloodborne Pathogens

In Health-Care Settings

KCTCS is an equal opportunity employer and educational institution.

What are bloodborne pathogens?

They’re disease causing organisms, including viruses and bacteria, that may be present in human blood, blood components or blood products. Bloodborne pathogens can make you very ill. Some can even kill.


Which ones are most common in health-care settings ?

The pathogens of greatest concern for most health-care workers are:

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus that causes AIDS

HBV (hepatitis B virus), a virus that can cause serious liver damage

HCV (hepatitis C virus), another virus that can cause liver disease


Are there others I should know about ?

Yes. Many other bloodborne diseases pose a threat to people in both health-care and home-care settings.

Examples include: Hepatitis D Ebola

(viral hemorrhagic fever)

Diphtheria malaria

Syphilis herpes


Other body substances may also spread bloodborne pathogens….

These include: blood products (such as plasma) semen vaginal secretions fluid in the uterus of a pregnant woman fluids surrounding the brain, spine, heart and joints fluids in the chest and abdomen

Some bloodborne pathogens are deadly.


Who’s at greatest risk ?

Anyone who works in –or visits – a

health-care facility can become infected with a bloodborne pathogen. But some people face a higher risk.


Certain health-care staffHave more risk of exposure to blood or other body substances in

health-care settings:

Examples include:

physicians

nurses

lab workers

housekeepers

emergency medical service providers

home health-care workers

dentists and members of their staff

workers who handle regulated wastes


Patients who are ill, injured or otherwise weakened….

may be especially vulnerable to infection. Taking steps to preventtransmission of bloodborne pathogens helps keep patients, their families and other visitors out of harm’s way.


How are bloodborne pathogens transmitted ?

Infections are most likely to occur when contaminated blood or other body substances come in contact with a person’s :

broken skin – examples include skin that’s been jabbed with a needle or cut with a sharp object, or skin with an existing cut, rash or burn

mucous membranes - splashing or spraying blood can cause infection through the delicate tissues of the eyes, nose and mouth.


Standard Precautionsare CDC infection control recommendations. Lourdes uses Standard Precautions, because they:

1. Combine the main ideas from Universal Precautions and Body Substance Isolation

Standard Precautions require health-care workers to treat allhuman blood – and any body fluid, secretion, excretion or discharge (except sweat), whether or not it contains visible blood – as if it is infected with a bloodborne pathogen.


2. Apply to a host of situations

Standard Precautions are required during any procedure where there’s a chance of:

exposure to blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions (except sweat)

contact with broken skin or mucous membranes



3. Cover all types of patientsStandard Precautions apply to the care of all patients

(including those receiving home care), whether or not

they have a confirmed or suspected infection.



A close look at three bloodborne

pathogens


1. The hepatitis B virus (HBV)

attacks the liver. HBV can cause:

active hepatitis B – a flu-like illness that can last for months

A chronic carrier state – the person may have no symptoms, but can pass HBV to others

Cirrhosis, liver cancer – and death.

Fortunately, vaccines are available to prevent HBV infection.

2. The hepatitis C virus (HCV)

also attacks the liver.

Symptoms of active infection are milder than those of HBV – or may not even be present. But, HCV is more likely to cause:

a chronic carrier state

cirrhosis, liver cancer – and death

turn page

for #3


3. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)causes AIDS. HIV attacks the immune system, making the body

less able to fight off infections. In most cases, these infections

eventually prove fatal.


These pathogens can be spread when

infected fluids enter the body through:

needle-stick injuries

cuts, scrapes and other breaks in the skin

splashes into the mouth, nose or eyes

oral, vaginal or anal sex

using infected drug needles

Pregnant women who are infected with these pathogens can pass them to their babies.


There are other bloodbornepathogens….

that cause diseases such as syphilis and malaria. But your greatest risks are from HBV, HCV and HIV.

Protect yourself from bloodborne pathogens. Use required equipment and labels for your job.These may include:

Special tools- such as needles designed to help prevent

needle-stick injuries.

Autoclaves- for sterilizing equipment.

Biological safety cabinets- which help protect lab workers from

airborne particles.

Special containersfor potentially contaminated materials.

These include:

used sharps (needles, broken glass or

any object that can pierce the skin)

other regulated wastes (gloves

contaminated with blood or other body

substances, used dressings, etc.)

contaminated laundry. Biohazard labels- which display the biohazard symbol

with the word BIOHAZARD. (Red bags or containers may be used in

place of labels.)

Follow required work practices for your job

For example:

Cover cutsScrapes, hangnails, rashes, etc.

Handle sharps carefully- never bend, break or recap needles.

(Gloves will not keep you from being stuck.)

Minimize splashingof fluids. For example, cover a specimen

tube with gauze before pulling out the stopper.

Keep food and beverageswhere they belong – not in refrigerators,

freezers or cabinets used for infectious materials.

Don’t eat, drink or smoke in work areas where bloodborne

pathogens may be present. Don’t handle contact lenses or apply cosmetics or lip balm in these areas.

Wash your skin immediatelyafter contact with body substances or

objects that might be contaminated. If soap and running water not available:

Use antiseptic hand cleaners

Wash with soap and running water as soon as you can.

Then, report the incident

Use required personal protective

equipment (PPE).

Wear glovesif contact with blood, other body substances or contaminated objects is possible.

* Never reuse disposable latex or nylon gloves.

Wash your handsbefore putting on and after removing gloves.

Examine glovesfor tears, cracks and tiny holes before and during use. Replace damaged gloves as soon as possible.

Remove glovesso that the glove’s outer surface never touches your skin.

1. Grasp the outside of a glove near the wrist

2. Pull down until the glove comes off inside-out

3. Cup this glove in the palm of your gloved hand. Then, insert 2 fingers of your

bare hand inside the cuff of the remaining glove.

4. Pull down so this glove also comes off inside-out -- with the first glove tucked inside.

Wear other PPEs as needed:

Wear a mask and eye protection, or a full face shield, if fluids could

splash or spray into your eyes, nose or mouth.

Wear an apron or a gown if fluids could splash or drip onto your

clothing. If fluid penetrates the apron or gown, change it as soon as

possible.

Wear other PPE, such as a cap, a hood and shoe coverings, when

exposure to a lot of fluids is possible (such as during surgery,

autopsy or embalming).

Use a resuscitation device

or pocket resuscitation mask when providing rescue breathing.

Remove contaminated PPE

and other contaminated clothing carefully—while wearing gloves.

Remember to wash your hands after removing PPE.

Eliminate hazards with proper

housekeeping.

Don’t touch broken glass

- Pick it up with tongs, or use a broom

and dustpan.

Dispose of sharpsin a covered, puncture-resistant, leakproof

container that is red or labeled with the

biohazard symbol.

Place other contaminated wastes

(linens, gloves, etc.) in a leakproof

container or bag that is red or labeled

with the biohazard symbol. (Bag

linens where they were used.) If the

outside of the container or bag

becomes contaminated, place it in a

second container or bag.

Never reach into trashto retrieve an object.

Report full sharps containers and waste containers

- see that they’re covered, removed and

replaced.

Clean equipmentand work surfaces at the end of your shift,

as well as when visibly contaminated.

Wear gloves. Use approved

disinfectant towelettes.


Consider the hepatitis B vaccine.It’s your best protection against hepatitis B !

The vaccine is given in a series of doses

(usually 3 shots over 6 months). You must get each dose for the vaccine to work. You may need a booster shot later on.

Ask your personal health-care provider is there is any reason you should not have the vaccine. (For example, people allergic to yeast should not have it.) Tell your health-care provider if you are pregnant.


What if I’m exposed to blood or other body substances?Wash the exposed area immediatelywith soap and running water. Scrub vigorously with lots of lather. Try to save

the sharp or other contaminated object for testing.

Report the incident promptlyusing the appropriate reporting system

Get medical helpand counseling. Report to your Supervisor or Instructor.

Ask about current treatmentsyour personal physician will recommend appropriate treatment options

and/or the policy will be followed according to your clinical site for treatment recommendations.


Test your knowledgeabout staying safe around bloodbornepathogens by marking true or false.

1. Infection control procedures only apply to blood exposure…………

True or False

2. Contaminated sharps (needles, broken glass, etc.) must be placed in a covered, puncture-resistant, leakproof container that is red or has a biohazard symbol….

True or FalseKCTCS is an equal opportunity employer and educational institution.

3. Latex gloves will keep you from being stuck by sharps….

True or False

4. You should wear a mask and eye protection if fluids could splash or spray into your eyes, nose or mouth….

True or False


5. HIV, HBV and HCV are the bloodbornepathogens which poses the greatest risk to health-care workers….

True or False

6. There is no vaccine for the hepatitis B virus (HBV)….

True or False


7. If you come in contact with blood or other body substances, you should wash your skin immediately….

True or False

8. Bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted

through mucous membranes of the eyes,

nose and mouth, as well as through

broken skin….

True or False


9. Incident Reporting is required whenever an employee has been exposed to blood or other body fluids….

True or False

10. The Bloodborne Pathogens Standard applies only to health-care workers….

True or False


Answers1.F

2.T

3.F

4.T

5.T

6.F

7.T

8.T

9.T

10.F


Please sign and print out this page and turn it into your instructor.

I have completed the above Bloodborne Pathogen instructional session on_______.

I understand the regulatory text (Title 29 CFR1910.1030) and West Kentucky Community and Technical College OSHA Infection Control Compliance Plan is available in the West Kentucky Community and Technical College Policy Manual and also in the following areas; Maintenance and Operations, Personnel, Dean of Academic Affairs Office, Library , and the Nursing Coordinator’s Office.

I understand the symptoms of bloodborne diseases and the modes of transmission of bloodborne pathogens. An explanation was given on the exposure control plan and appropriate engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment I need on my job or in the instructional area.

I understand how to locate, use, remove, decontaminate and/or dispose of appropriate personal protective equipment for the tasks that I do.

I have received information on the hepatitis B vaccine and understand my options for taking the vaccine. I understand the signs and labels used to identify biohazardous materials.

Name________________________________Date_____________________


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