Bloodborne pathogens are infectious agents that can cause disease in humans. Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are the most common bloodborne pathogens. Transmission of bloodborne pathogens occurs when infected blood or other body fluids come into contact with an open wound or mucous membrane or the bloodstream of an individual who is not infected. The risk of infection depends on how much virus is present, how many viruses can multiply, how long it takes for symptoms to appear, and the type of exposure. Healthcare workers who have had potential exposures involving potentially infectious materials must be treated for possible infections immediately (within 24 hours). To help reduce the risk of becoming infected with a bloodborne pathogen, healthcare workers should follow all safe practices and procedures.
Bloodborne pathogens are infectious agents that can cause disease in humans.
Bloodborne pathogens are infectious agents that can cause disease in humans. They are transmitted through contact with blood or other body fluids, such as semen and vaginal secretions. Examples of bloodborne pathogens include hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
These viruses and bacteria cause serious illnesses if they enter your body through a cut or wound on your skin or mucous membranes such as your mouth or eyes. You may be exposed to these diseases at work if you have direct contact with contaminated materials or equipment used in medical care settings such as hospitals and clinics.
Bloodborne pathogens are not spread through casual contact such as shaking hands with an infected person; however, certain activities involving direct contact with blood increase the risk of infection transmission:
- Performing invasive procedures on clients who may have been exposed to an infectious agent by another client who has tested positive for one type of infection but hasn't received treatment yet;
- Giving injections into veins/arteries using unsterile equipment;
- Working around needles used during surgery without wearing protective gear like gloves;
Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are the most common bloodborne pathogens.
Bloodborne pathogens are viruses and bacteria that live in human blood. They can be transmitted when infected blood or other bodily fluids come into contact with a person's skin, eyes, mouth or broken skin. In the healthcare setting, these pathogens are most commonly transmitted through needle sticks (needle pricks) or splashes from equipment used to draw blood. Other ways of transmission include:
- Needle-stick injuries during injection procedures
- Splashes from instruments used for drawing blood or giving injections; for example needles, syringes, and lancets (the small blades used for puncturing the skin during finger-prick tests).
Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are among the most common types of bloodborne pathogens found in healthcare settings today. Other less common but still very important ones include West Nile virus; malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum; syphilis caused by Treponema pallidum; yellow fever caused by Flavivirus; dengue fever caused by one of four strains of arboviruses carried by mosquitoes--Aedes aegypti being one example--or Japanese encephalitis virus transmitted through mosquito bites
Transmission of bloodborne pathogen
Bloodborne pathogens are transmitted when infected blood or other body fluids come into contact with an open wound or mucous membrane. In order to transmit, the source of the bloodborne pathogen must come into direct contact with your bloodstream in some way. This can occur through broken skin, such as a cut or scrape; it can also happen if you touch someone else's blood and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth (as in kissing).
Other body fluids that may carry the hepatitis B virus include:
- semen (cum) from an infected person;
- vaginal secretions from a woman who has been infected by having sex with someone who has hepatitis B virus; and
- breast milk from a woman who has hepatitis B virus.
The risk of infection depends on how much virus is present.
The risk of infection depends on how much virus is present, how many viruses can multiply, and how long it takes for symptoms to appear. The risk also varies depending on the type of exposure:
- Direct contact with blood or body fluids from someone who's infected
- Indirect contact with contaminated objects or surfaces that may contain infectious material (such as needles)
The risk is greatest when there's a large amount of blood or body fluid exposure because there are more viruses present. For example, if you get cut while working with a patient who has hepatitis B virus (HBV), then you have an increased chance of becoming infected if they bleed into your wound compared with getting pricked by a needle used by this same patient without bleeding first. However, even small amounts can cause infections if they come into contact with broken skin or mucous membranes such as those inside the nose or mouth -- these areas are more vulnerable than intact skin because they don't have any protective layers like sweat glands do, and therefore offer less protection against pathogens entering through them
Healthcare workers who have had potential exposures.
If you are not sure if you have been exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials, contact your healthcare facility's infection control officer immediately.
If you have had a potential exposure involving potentially infectious materials and are being treated for possible infection:
- Go directly home and stay there until instructed otherwise by your healthcare provider or the infection control officer at your facility; do not go back to work until cleared by them;
- Do not have visitors while being treated for possible infections;
- Take all medications as prescribed by your healthcare provider; take them exactly as directed without skipping doses or changing dosing times unless directed otherwise by him/her; report any side effects immediately; check with him/her before starting any new medication (including over-the-counter drugs), herbal supplements or vitamins -- even those bought at grocery stores -- because these may interact with medications he/she has prescribed for you; avoid alcohol consumption while taking anti-viral medications
To help reduce the risk of becoming infected with a bloodborne pathogen, healthcare workers should follow all safe practices and procedures.
To help reduce the risk of becoming infected with a bloodborne pathogen, healthcare workers should follow all safe practices and procedures.
- Use gloves, masks, and goggles when working with blood or body fluids.
- Use a one-way valve on the sharps container to prevent backflow of fluids.
- Dispose of contaminated materials in a puncture-resistant container (for example sharps containers).
- Wash hands with soap and water after handling potentially infectious materials. Wash hands with soap and water immediately after removing gloves. Avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth, or wounds when working with blood or body fluids. Report any exposure to blood or body fluids immediately
Follow these steps to protect yourself from exposure to bloodborne pathogens at work!
- Wash hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand rubs.
- Wear gloves when appropriate.
- Wear a gown when appropriate.
- Use a mask when appropriate.
- Never recap needles; dispose of them in puncture-proof sharps containers after use, or use needleless systems whenever possible (e.g., self-retracting syringes). If you need to access hard-to-reach areas, use a needle extension device instead of bending or breaking the needle tip off at an angle as this may make it easier for bloodborne pathogens to leak out onto your skin surface!
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. We have certifications available for healthcare workers, including information about how to protect yourself and your patients from exposure to bloodborne pathogens. You can also contact your state health department or local infection control office for more information about safe practices in your area.