Bloodborne Pathogens

1. Bloodborne Pathogens

2. Overview • Definitions • HIV • Hepatitis B • Hepatitis C • Exposure Control Plan • Signs/Labels • Precautions • Reporting/Follow-up procedures

3. Definitions Bloodborne Pathogens: Pathogenic micro-organisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans Other Potential Infectious Materials (OPIM) : 1. Human blood components and/or products 2. Semen 3. Vaginal secretions 4. Cerebrospinal fluid 5. Synovial fluid (joints) 6. Pleural fluid (chest) 7. Pericardial fluid (heart) 8. Peritoneal fluid (abdomen) 9. Amniotic fluid (childbirth) 10. Saliva in dental procedures 11. Any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood 12. Any fluids in which differentiation of body fluid types is difficult

4. HIV (Human Immuno-deficiency Virus) • Virus that causes AIDS • Passed from one person to another through blood-to-blood and sexual contact • Cannot live more than several hours outside of host • Most people with HIV will develop AIDS as a result of their infection • Currently no cure, but those infected live longer than decades ago

5. HIV

6. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) • A virus that attacks the liver • 100 times more likely to contract HBV than HIV • Can stay alive in dried blood for up to one year • HBV vaccination available to ALL who have occupational exposure

7. Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)

8. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) • Most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States • Only transmitted by blood to blood contact • Most common exposure is through intravenous drug use • Only survives outside of the host for a few hours

9. Written Exposure Control Plan (ECP) • What potential exposures exist • Implementation details • Company’s policies to control BBP exposure • Hepatitis B vaccination and follow-up • Employee training • Recordkeeping • The procedures for reported incidents • Employer must make sure a copy of the ECP is available to all employees • Must be reviewed and updated annually and whenever jobs/tasks/procedures are changed

10. Labels Must be on any containers containing blood/OPIM or regulated waste disposal, refrigerators, etc. Biohazard symbol Fluorescent orange/red Red bags/containers can substitute for labels Signs Posted at entrance to specified work areas Fluorescent orange/red Bearing the following legend: Name of the infectious agent Special requirements for entering area Name, phone number of responsible person Labels/Signs

11. Universal Precautions • Differentiation between body fluid types is difficult, all body fluids must be considered as infectiousmaterials • Always use proper PPE • Nitrile Gloves • Safety glasses • Face Shield • Apron • Hand washing

12. Precautions- Engineering Examples • Sharps disposal containers • Self sheathing needles • Mechanical needle recapping device

13. Precautions- Engineering Sharps containers must be: • Puncture resistant • Properly labeled or color-coded for biohazards • Leak proof on the sides and bottom • Impossible for employees to reach into the container by hand to retrieve sharps • Conveniently located to work area • Maintained in upright position • Replaced or emptied routinely, not allowed to overfill

14. Precautions- Administrative/PPE Examples: • Employer provided PPE • Prohibiting recapping of needles using a two-handed technique • Flushing mucous membranes after contact with body areas with blood or OPIM • Appropriate procedures for laundry handling • Hand washing

15. Precautions- House Cleaning • Always wear proper PPE • Gloves (Latex or nitrile) • Safety glasses/Face Shield • Apron • Never blindly reach into a trash can • Needles put into sharps containers • Sweep up any sharp objects • Use of biohazard containers

16. Precautions- House Cleaning Cleaning up blood or OPIM • Use a BBP spill kit • Wear proper PPE • If necessary, apply chlorinated absorbent to the liquid on ground • Scoop up all absorbed blood or OPIM and dispose of into red bio-hazard bag • Clean area with disposable towels soaked in approved disinfectant • Dispose of towels into red bio-hazard bag • Wipe surface with germicidal wipe • Once area is cleaned up, dispose of gloves into red bio-hazard bag • Use antimicrobial hand wipes and wash hands immediately

17. Precautions- House Cleaning Regulated Waste • Blood in liquid or semi-liquid form • Items that would release blood or OPIM if compressed • Contaminated sharps • Items caked with dried blood or OPIM

18. Precautions- House Cleaning Laundry Handling • Always wear appropriate PPE (gloves, apron, etc.) • Use bags or containers marked with biohazard symbol for laundry soaked in infectious waste • Can use red bags or containers instead • Put into secondary container if leaks are possible • Never wash with normal laundry or in same machines

19. Reporting/Follow-up Procedures If exposure occurs: • Wash the exposed area of skin or flush mucous membrane with large amounts of water • Report it immediately • How, when, where • Whose blood or exactly what happened • The Hepatitis B vaccination • Recommended regardless of source’s HBV status • It is up to you

20. Reporting/Follow-up Procedures The employer must: • Document the route of the exposure and how the exposure occurred • Identify and document the source individual if feasible and not prohibited by law • Obtain consent and test source individual’s blood as soon as possible • Provide the exposed employee with the test results of source’s blood test and inform about applicable disclosure laws (HIPAA) • Obtain consent, collect, and test exposed employee’s blood as soon as possible after the incident

21. Reporting/Follow-up Procedures The employer: • Provides the employee with a copy of a written opinion from the health care professional within 15 days of the evaluation stating two things • HBV vaccination • Post-exposure evaluation

22. Questions Special Districts Association of Oregon Loss Control Department 503-371-8667 800-285-5461