Bloodborne pathogens are bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can be transmitted from one person to another through blood and other bodily fluids. These infectious agents pose a risk to both the employee who is exposed to them and those around them who may contract an illness if they come into contact with infected blood.
Bloodborne pathogens are bacteria that can cause disease in humans.
Bloodborne pathogens are bacteria that can cause disease in humans. Bloodborne pathogens are found in human blood, body fluids, and tissues. The most common forms of infection from bloodborne pathogens are hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS. Employees are more likely to protect themselves against bloodborne pathogen exposure if they have proper training in place beforehand. The estimates that as many as 1.9 million people become infected with bloodborne pathogens each year; however, this number could be reduced if proper precautions were taken by employers who have employees working with potentially infectious material such as needles or sharp instruments (e.g., scalpels).
These infectious agents are found in human blood, body fluids, and tissues.
Bloodborne pathogens are found in human blood, body fluids, and tissues. The most common bloodborne pathogens are hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS. These infectious agents can be found in blood, semen, vaginal secretions, saliva, sweat, and urine. They can be infectious even when dried on surfaces or needles after use and have been shown to survive for months when exposed to sunlight or other sources of UV light (such as fluorescent lighting). Needles used for injections are often contaminated with bloodborne pathogens so care must be taken not only when handling them but also disposing of them safely after use. Contact with mucous membranes (eyes nose mouth) may also cause infection if they become exposed while working with potentially infected materials such as those mentioned above
The Prevention estimates that as many as 1.9 million people become infected with bloodborne pathogens each year.
The Prevention estimates that as many as 1.9 million people become infected with bloodborne pathogens each year. The estimates that, on average, 40,000 people die from these infections each year. The also estimate that 8,000 people become infected with HIV from bloodborne pathogens each year and approximately half of these infections are from sharing needles used to inject drugs or other substances like steroids or hormones--this means that 4% of all new HIV infections in the U.S. are due to needle sharing among IDUs (people who inject drugs).
In addition to hepatitis B and C statistics being included in these estimates, there are also some statistics regarding other diseases spread through contact with infected blood such as syphilis (1%), gonorrhea (2%), and chlamydia (< 1%).
The most common forms of infection from bloodborne pathogens are hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
- Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver.
- Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver.
- HIV/AIDS is a viral infection of the blood that can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), if left untreated.
HIV and AIDS can be used in the same sentence because they are both bloodborne pathogens that have not been cured yet, although there are treatments available for people who have been diagnosed with one or both illnesses
The presence of these diseases can be minimized by having a program in place to ensure safety.
Bloodborne pathogens are diseases that can be transmitted through contact with infected blood or other body fluids.
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV is a serious infection that affects the liver and causes chronic illness over time, including liver damage or cancer. It may also lead to death if left untreated.
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV weakens your immune system by destroying CD4+ T cells, which help fight off infections like pneumonia or tuberculosis. If left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS--a condition where your body's ability to fight off disease becomes severely compromised--and eventually death
Bloodborne pathogens must be contained by either preventing exposure or disinfecting after an exposure has occurred.
- Prevention is the best option. If exposure does occur, use proper procedures to clean up the area and prevent further spread of bloodborne pathogens.
- Disinfection is only necessary after an exposure has occurred, if there is a risk of infection from the bloodborne pathogen. Disinfection products should be kept in a safe place away from children or pets, who could come into contact with them accidentally and become sick themselves. The Centers for Disease Control recommends using registered disinfectants that are labeled as effective against HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1). Disinfectants used on hard surfaces need to be tested before they are used; those used on soft surfaces do not require testing because they have already been proven effective against viruses like HIV-1 through prior testing by manufacturers. Do not inhale or ingest any type of disinfectant!
In most cases, the first step is providing training on how to recognize potentially dangerous situations.
- How to recognize potentially dangerous situations
- How to prevent exposure
- How to disinfect after exposure
- Control bloodborne pathogens in the workplace and in your home environment (kitchen, bathroom, garage)
- Keep yourself safe against bloodborne pathogens by following these simple steps: Wash your hands with soap and water; don't share personal items such as razors or toothbrushes; avoid contact with people who have open wounds on their bodies; use protective clothing when necessary; keep any sharps containers closed at all times.
Employees are more likely to protect themselves against bloodborne pathogen exposure if they have proper training in place beforehand
Employees are more likely to protect themselves against bloodborne pathogen exposure if they have proper training in place beforehand. In addition to knowing how to recognize potentially dangerous situations and how they can prevent exposure, employees should be trained on the proper way of disinfecting after an incident. They should also be able to report incidents with confidence by knowing what information is required for reporting purposes and where it should go.
Conclusion
Having a bloodborne pathogens certification program in place is an essential part of keeping employees safe. It's also important to note that it doesn't matter if you're working in healthcare or another industry where these diseases are present--your company should have some kind of protocol in place so that everyone understands how to avoid infection.