Bloodborne pathogens are a serious concern in the medical field. They can be transmitted from one person to another through blood, and they can cause some pretty serious diseases if not prevented. As scary as that sounds, you can protect yourself against bloodborne pathogens by learning about them and following proper safety procedures. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about bloodborne pathogens including what they are, how you get them, who is at risk for exposure, and how to keep yourself safe from infection when working with blood or other bodily fluids.
What are bloodborne pathogens?
Bloodborne pathogens are viruses and bacteria that can be transmitted through contact with blood or other body fluids. Examples of bloodborne pathogens include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus, syphilis, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD).
All workers who may be exposed to these infectious diseases must follow Bloodborne Pathogen Standard which requires employers to provide training on how to prevent exposure, clean up accidents in the workplace, and report any incidents involving a worker becoming infected with a bloodborne pathogen.
Employers also must maintain records on employee training as well as health screening results for each employee who has been potentially exposed to these diseases during work activities. The most common occupations that require this type of certification include healthcare workers like doctors nurses assistants technicians etc., laboratory technicians/assistants morticians embalmers funeral directors ambulance drivers paramedics etc..
How do you get them?
Bloodborne pathogens are bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can be transmitted through contact with blood or other bodily fluids. They're also known as "BBP."
Bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted when:
- You come into contact with a person's blood or other bodily fluids during work activities such as needle sticks (from needles used on patients), cuts/abrasions from sharp instruments such as scalpels and knives, splashes or sprays to the eyes, nose, and mouth (from contaminated equipment), or any other mucous membrane area of the body--including injury sustained while handling contaminated items such as dirty laundry baskets filled with soiled linens;
- The BBP are passed from one person to another through sexual contact; sexual intercourse is not required for transmission;
- If you have an open wound on your hand while performing invasive procedures like drawing blood samples from a patient who may have contracted one of these diseases already but hasn't yet displayed symptoms yet--this is called "needle stick" exposure because it involves getting stuck by accident when drawing blood samples from others without wearing protective gear first
What are the risks of exposure?
The risks of exposure to bloodborne pathogens are serious. Exposure can lead to serious illness, death, long-term health problems, and a negative impact on the workplace.
- Exposure: If you are injured at work and your blood enters another person's body through a cut or puncture wound that person may be infected with a disease like hepatitis B or C (HBV/HCV). The risk of infection depends on which body fluid is involved and how much comes into contact with the skin or mucous membranes. For example, splashing small amounts of blood in the eye can cause conjunctivitis (pink eye) but drinking large quantities could lead to severe internal bleeding in the stomach or intestine!
Who is at risk for exposure?
In addition to healthcare workers, there are many people who are at risk for exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Lab technicians, dentists, dental hygienists, hairdressers and cosmetologists (including nail technicians), nurses, phlebotomists (people who draw blood), emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and paramedics may come into contact with blood while they're at work. They may also need training in how to protect themselves from infection if they want certification as a first responder or an ambulance driver.
Employees who clean up after accidents involving bodily fluids or handle medical waste must also be trained in how best to prevent transmission of these diseases through inadvertent contact with infected materials. This includes janitors who clean hospitals; building custodians who work in offices; daycare workers; company owners and managers--anyone whose job puts them at risk for coming into contact with bodily fluids through their work duties should get certified!
How can we keep ourselves safe from exposure?
- Wear protective gear.
- Wash your hands often and thoroughly, especially before and after entering the work area.
- Use proper disposal practices for contaminated materials such as sharps containers or bags, gloves, and gowns (or other personal protective equipment) that become soiled with blood or body fluids during patient care activities.
- Keep your work area clean to reduce the risk of contamination from other sources such as dust particles or dirt tracked into the room by shoes or carts carrying supplies for patient care activities.
Workers who handle blood should be properly trained and certified.
The best way to avoid exposure is by training and certification.
In many countries, it's a requirement for those who handle blood to be properly trained and certified. Certification shows that you have been trained in how to safely work with bloodborne pathogens, as well as tested for infection. It also shows that you are fit to work with these potentially dangerous substances on a daily basis--a fact that can help you get a job in your field or travel abroad if needed.
Conclusion
To summarize, bloodborne pathogens can cause serious harm to workers who handle them. As such, it is important that everyone who works with these substances be properly trained and certified in order to limit their exposure.