2. Pathogens can be transmitted through:
Direct contact between broken or Cerebrospinal fluid
chaffed skin and infected body
fluids
Pleural fluid
Needle stick injuries from infected
hypodermic needles or sharps or Vaginal secretions
shared drug needles
Amniotic fluid
Sexual contact
Pericardial fluid
Blood
Semen
Synovial fluid
Peritoneal fluid
Saliva (containing blood)
3. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
o Direct contact between broken or chaffed skin and infected
body fluids.
• Needle stick injuries from infected hypodermic needles or sharps
• Shared drug needles
• Sexual contact
o Hepatitis B can also be transmitted through caked, dried
blood, and contaminated surfaces.
o 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 infection.
4. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
o The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) also attacks the liver.
Symptoms of active infection are milder than those of
HBV and may not even be present. But, HCV is more
likely to cause:
• A chronic carrier state,
• Cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death
o 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.
5. Hospital Exposure Control
Plan
o Universal or standard precautions
o Work practices, including the use of protective clothing, that eliminate or
minimize associate exposure
o Housekeeping procedures to ensure cleanliness and sanitation
o Hepatitis B vaccination for associates at risk
o Exposure evaluation and follow-up for exposure incidents
o Hazardous material container warnings such as biohazard labels.
o Confidential, accurate associate medical records
6. Take special care when you collect, handle, store, or
transport blood or other potentially infectious
materials.
Use only leak-proof (and, if necessary, puncture-proof)
containers. If the outside of the container is
contaminated, place it in a second leak-proof container.
If a container becomes contaminated, decontaminate it-
or at least label it “Contaminated” so no one will use it
accidentally. Notify your supervisor.
To make sure you know what you’re handling, OSHA
requires containers of potentially infectious materials to
be red, or labeled clearly in orange or orange-red with
the biohazard symbol, or both.
7. Take Precautions
o Universal Precautions means you treat all blood and other
potentially infectious body fluids as if they are infected.
o Wash hands and exposed skin with soap and water immediately
after exposure to infectious materials or after taking off gloves or
other personal protective equipment.
o Use antiseptic or cleansers or towelettes only if washing facilities
are not available.
o Minimize splashing, spraying, or spattering of blood or other
potentially infectious materials.
o Place contaminated sharps in assigned labeled, puncture-
resistant, leak-proof containers.
8. DON’T
o Don’t shear or break contaminated needles or other sharps,
and don’t bend, recap, or remove unless specifically
instructed.
o Don’t keep food or drink in work areas with exposure
potential.
o Don’t eat, drink, smoke, apply cosmetics or lip balm, or
handle contact lenses in work areas with exposure potential.
o Don’t pipette or suction potentially infectious material with
your mouth.
9. Proper Protective Equipment
o Gloves prevent hand contact with infectious materials.
o Replace disposable gloves after each use – immediately if
they’re torn or punctured.
o Don’t wash or decontaminate disposable gloves.
o You can decontaminate and reuse utility gloves if they’re
not cracked, torn, or otherwise unable to protect you.
o Masks, face shields or goggles, or glasses with solid side
shields prevent splashes, spray, or spatters in your eyes,
nose, mouth, or face.
o Gowns, aprons, or similar clothing, and sometimes surgical
caps or hoods and /or shoe covers or boots, protect your
body.
10. Proper Protective Equipment
o Before you put on protective
clothing, make sure it’s in good
condition. Don’t wear anything
that’s damaged.
o After exposure, remove protective
clothing to avoid contaminating
yourself. Place it in the assigned
area or container for
decontamination, washing, storage,
or disposal.
11. Hepatitis B Vaccine
o There’s a vaccine that helps
protect against hepatitis B, and
OSHA requires employers to
provide it -free- to employees at
risk of exposure.
o When an exposure has
occurred, timely reporting of the
event may influence the
treatment given.
12. Remember: There are no vaccines for HCV or HIV and no
cures. Even if you are vaccinated against HBV, you must
still follow universal precautions to stay safe on the job!
Medication is available that may decrease your chance of
contracting HIV, should the source be positive, but it must
be started very quickly. For that reason it is very important
to both report and seek treatment immediately after an
exposure to blood or body fluids.
If equipment or clothing is contaminated, follow proper
cleaning, decontamination, and/or disposal procedures.
Report any exposure to infectious materials immediately –
and cooperate with medical efforts to discover sources of
infection and to begin treatment.
