Introduction
In healthcare, it's important to protect yourself from bloodborne pathogens. A bloodborne pathogen as a microorganism such as a virus or bacteria that is present in human blood and can cause disease in humans. This includes HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other viruses that cause diseases like herpes (for example). Exposure may occur through contact with contaminated needles or sharp instruments during surgery or dental procedures; contact with blood during pregnancy; accidents or injury involving needles or sharp instruments; or through contact with potentially contaminated surfaces. Infection is not guaranteed by exposure to a bloodborne pathogen -- each person who has been exposed will have their own individual risk of infection -- but it's important to take precautions to reduce the possibility of transmission
Bloodborne pathogens and personal protective equipment (PPE) are serious topics in healthcare.
Bloodborne pathogens are a serious topic in healthcare, and it's important that you know how to protect yourself from them.
- Bloodborne pathogens are viruses or other microorganisms that can be transmitted by the exchange of blood or other bodily fluids.
- They include Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and prions (a protein associated with mad cow disease).
- The most common way people get exposed is through needle stick injuries; however, exposure can also occur through contact with infected blood during surgery or other procedures where there may be an accidental cut on the skin surface of your hands. You can also get exposed if someone sneezes while they are wearing gloves covered in their own saliva which contains infectious material from their nose (during this process called "droplet transmission"). This is why it's important for healthcare providers to use gloves when handling patients who have infectious diseases such as influenza virus A/H1N1 pandemic flu virus infection because there is no vaccine available yet against H1N1 pandemic flu virus infection so we need all hands on deck!
A bloodborne pathogen as a microorganism, such as a virus or bacteria, that is present in human blood and can cause disease in humans.
Bloodborne pathogens include HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other viruses that cause diseases like herpes. Exposure to bloodborne pathogens can occur through contact with contaminated needles during surgery or dental procedures; through direct blood-to-blood contact from an infected person's skin lesions or mucous membranes (e.g., open sores); or through mucous membranes (e.g., open sores).
This includes HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other viruses that cause diseases like herpes.
Bloodborne pathogens are viruses and bacteria that can be transmitted through contact with blood. This includes HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other viruses that cause diseases like herpes. The most common bloodborne pathogen is HIV--the virus that causes AIDS--but hepatitis B and C are also common in healthcare settings. Other viruses that can be transmitted via blood include hepatitis A (HAV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), chickenpox (varicella zoster) or shingles (herpes zoster), mumps or measles if they are not appropriately vaccinated against these diseases.[1]
Healthcare workers who come into contact with patients' bodily fluids face a higher risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens than the general population.[2] To protect themselves from these risks while providing care for sick patients in need of treatment, healthcare workers must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves when working around patients' bodily fluids or material contaminated by them.[3]
Exposure may occur through contact with contaminated needles, organs, or tissues during surgery or dental procedures; contact with blood during pregnancy; accidents or injury involving needles or sharp instruments; or through contact with potentially contaminated surfaces.
Bloodborne pathogens are viruses, bacteria, and parasites that may be present in human blood. Exposure may occur through contact with contaminated needles, organs, or tissues during surgery or dental procedures; contact with blood during pregnancy; accidents or injury involving needles or sharp instruments; or through contact with potentially contaminated surfaces.
Needles and sharp instruments can be contaminated with bloodborne pathogens if they are not properly sterilized after use on patients who are infected with these pathogens. Additionally, exposure to blood may occur during pregnancy (for example if you were pregnant when you were injured) or in the workplace (such as if someone else was injured).
Infection is not guaranteed by exposure to a bloodborne pathogen -- each person who has been exposed will have their own individual risk of infection -- but it's important to take precautions to reduce the possibility of transmission.
Infection is not guaranteed by exposure to a bloodborne pathogen. Each person who has been exposed will have their own individual risk of infection, but it's important to take precautions to reduce the possibility of transmission.
Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) can help protect you from being exposed in the first place, or from becoming infected if you are exposed. PPE includes gloves, gowns and aprons, respirators/masks/face shields for respiratory protection, goggles or other eye protection devices when appropriate
There are four main types of PPE that healthcare workers use when dealing with patients who may be carrying bloodborne pathogens.
- Gloves: Gloves are the most common type of PPE used by healthcare workers. They protect your hands from cuts and other injuries, as well as prevent any infectious material on a patient's skin or clothing from getting into your body through breaks in the skin. However, because gloves don't cover all areas of the body, they're not 100% effective at preventing the transmission of bloodborne pathogens (BBPs).
- Gowns: Gowns cover everything but your head and hands when working with patients who may be carrying BBPs. They're generally made out of paper-like material called "scrubs" that makes it easy for you to slide them over your clothes so you can put them on quickly before entering an isolation room or operating room where there might be an increased risk for exposure to BBPs. Masks: Masks are another type of personal protective equipment (PPE) used by medical professionals when treating patients who could potentially spread BBP through their saliva or other bodily fluids such as urine or feces. Eye Protection: You should always wear eye protection whenever using sharp objects like needles during procedures involving blood draws because these needles can carry infectious agents into open sores around your eyes. Learn How To Put On And Remove Your Personal Protective Equipment Properly
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is any material used by medical professionals to protect themselves from infectious agents while caring for patients or assisting in surgery.
PPE is any material used by medical professionals to protect themselves from infectious agents while caring for patients or assisting in surgery. PPE includes gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used to prevent the transmission of bloodborne pathogens such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). It also prevents exposure to other potentially infectious materials like body fluids like saliva or vomit that may contain these viruses. PPE can be disposable or reusable depending on the situation; however, all PPE must be disposed of properly.
Conclusion
The best way to protect yourself from bloodborne pathogens is by following the guidelines on personal protective equipment (PPE). In summary, this includes: wearing gloves at all times when handling potentially contaminated materials; using hand sanitation soap after handling bodily fluids; wearing protective gowns when entering rooms where patients have been exposed; using face masks in situations where airborne particles may be present (like during surgeries); and using eye protection if contact lenses aren't worn.