Bloodborne pathogens are any disease-causing microorganisms found in human blood that can be transmitted from one person to another by means of a percutaneous injury. The term "sharps" refers to those items used in health care settings to puncture the skin and involve needles, scalpels, hypodermic needles, and other devices capable of penetrating skin and are used to penetrate or cut the skin. Bloodborne pathogens include Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and MSSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Bloodborne pathogens may enter the body through small cuts or abrasions on the hands or other exposed skin areas.
Takeaway: An exposure incident occurs when there is a risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens from one person to another. If a person has an exposure incident involving blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM), even if no actual exposure occurred, it is important that all possible precautions be taken as if there was exposure."
Bloodborne Pathogens
A percutaneous injury is an injury that occurs when a sharp object pierces the skin. The term "sharp" refers to items used in health care settings that can penetrate or cut skin, including needles, scalpels, and other devices. Exposure incidents must be reported and treated as if there was an exposure even if no actual exposure occurred. Common sources of percutaneous injuries include needles and scalpels. These items may carry bloodborne pathogens such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and/or syphilis bacteria.
Sharp objects can transmit bloodborne pathogens from one person to another if they come into contact with blood or other bodily fluids. These sharp objects may also cause injuries that require medical attention. Therefore, it is important for correctional facility staff who handle sharps at work sites to know how best to ensure their own safety as well as that of others around them by following proper disposal procedures outlined in this guidebook section entitled: Disposal Procedures for Sharps Containing Bloodborne Pathogens
Bloodborne pathogens include Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and MSSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
They may enter the body through small cuts, abrasions on the hands, or other exposed skin areas.
Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver. Symptoms can include fever; fatigue; jaundice; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; abdominal pain; dark urine and pale stools. If left untreated this infection can cause permanent damage to your liver which could lead to death from cirrhosis or liver failure.
Hepatitis C is also known as "the silent killer" because it does not produce any symptoms until years after being infected with this virus which leads many people to unknowingly spread it without knowing they have it themselves! It attacks your liver cells causing inflammation that can eventually lead to scarring of tissue resulting in cirrhosis of your liver which results in its inability to function properly leading up to eventual death due to organ failure if left untreated long enough without a proper intervention like transplant surgery.
Bloodborne pathogens may enter the body through small cuts or abrasions on the hands or other exposed skin areas.
Examples of mucous membranes include the eyes, nose, and mouth. Cuts can be caused by contact with the blood or body fluids of another person during an exposure incident. Body fluids that may cause an exposure incident include saliva (spit), semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, and pleural fluid among others.
The first step you should take is to immediately wash the affected area with soap and water. If you were wearing gloves at the time of this incident it's important that they be removed immediately and washed thoroughly.
Blood, feces, urine, and vomit may also contain infectious organisms but are not considered bloodborne pathogens because they do not enter through an opening in our bodies large enough for them to be transmitted from one person to another.
The following are some examples of items that may contain infectious organisms:
- Feces can contain bacteria such as E. coli and Shigella; viruses like hepatitis A or rotavirus (which causes diarrhea); parasites such as Giardia lamblia (which causes cramps); or HIV if someone who is infected with the virus has had contact with their feces.
- Urine can contain bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae; viruses like adenovirus (which causes sore throat), cytomegalovirus (CMV) (which can cause birth defects), hepatitis B virus (HBV) if someone who is infected has had contact with their urine; protozoa such as Cryptosporidium parvum which causes diarrhea; or HIV if someone who is infected has had contact with their urine.
An exposure incident occurs when there is a risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens from one person to another.
An exposure incident can range from low risk to high risk depending on how much time passed between when the source individual bled/had OPIM on his/her body and when the exposed employee came into contact with it; how well the source individual washed his/her hands after using the bathroom; whether he/she had any open sores on his/her hands; etc. A contact incident occurs when direct physical contact between two people results in the potential transmission of bloodborne pathogens from one employee's bodily fluids onto another's skin or clothing
Conclusion
Bloodborne pathogens are any disease-causing microorganisms found in human blood that can be transmitted from one person to another by means of a percutaneous injury. The term "sharps" refers to those items used in health care settings to puncture the skin and involve needles, scalpels, hypodermic needles, and other devices capable of penetrating skin and are used to penetrate or cut the skin. Bloodborne pathogens include Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and MSSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Bloodborne pathogens may enter the body through small cuts or abrasions on the hands or other exposed skin areas. Blood, feces, urine, and vomit may also contain infectious organisms but are not considered bloodborne pathogens because they do not enter through an opening in our bodies large enough for them.