Transcript The Bloodborne Pathogen Standard

The Bloodborne Pathogen
Standard
An Overview
The Standard

In 1990, OSHA (Occupational Safety and
Health Administration), developed the
Bloodborne Pathogen Standard to protect
workers by limiting occupational exposure
to blood and other potentially infectious
materials.
The Standard
Originally, the Bloodborne Pathogen
standard was primarily aimed at workers
in hospitals, funeral homes, nursing
homes, clinics, law enforcement agencies,
and EMS workers.
 However, all employees who could
“reasonably anticipate” to face contact
with blood and other potentially infectious
materials are covered by the standard.

Quiz Question
OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens standard covers:
1.
2.
3.
4.
All employees, regardless of occupation or
workplace
All employees in jobs where occupational
exposure to bloodborne pathogens can be
“reasonably anticipated”
Only employees who work in health care
settings
Only employees who use needles on the job
What Are Other Potentially Infectious
Materials?
Blood, body tissue, organs
 Semen or vaginal secretions
 Saliva
 Any body fluid visibly contaminated with
blood
 All body fluids where you can not
differentiate between fluids

Quiz Question
Which of the following is not an example of
another potentially infectious material?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Blood
Spinal fluid
Urine
Body organs
Bloodborne Pathogens
Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms
that are present in human blood and can
infect and cause disease in people who
are exposed to blood containing the
pathogen.
These microorganisms can be transmitted
through contact with contaminated blood
and body fluids.
Bloodborne Pathogens
Bloodborne pathogens include, but are not
limited to:
 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
 Hepatitis B (HBV)
 Hepatitis C (HCV)
 Syphilis
 Malaria
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV)
HIV is the virus that causes acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
 HIV is passed from one person to another
through blood-to-blood and sexual
contact.
 HIV+ women can pass the virus to their
unborn child during pregnancy or delivery,
and through breast feeding.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV)
HIV infection almost always develops into
AIDS.
 AIDS kills or damages cells of the body’s
immune system.
 HIV progressively destroys the body’s
ability to fight infections and other
diseases.

Hepatitis
Acute viral hepatitis is a common,
sometimes serious infection of the liver.
There are at least five distinct viral
agents:
1. HAV – Hepatitis A
2. HBV – Hepatitis B
3. HDV – Delta
4. HCV – Hepatitis C
5. HEV – Enternally transmitted
Hepatitis B (HBV)
An estimated 1.25 million Americans are
infected with the Hepatitis B virus. A
Hepatitis B vaccine has been available
since 1982, and has greatly reduced the
disease among children and adolescents.
HBV symptoms include jaundice, fatigue,
abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea,
vomiting, and joint pain.
Hepatitis B (HBV)
Transmission of the Hepatitis B (HBV)
occurs when an infected person’s blood or
body fluids enters the body of another
person.
 The Hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination
series is available to all employees.

Hepatitis C (HCV)
The Hepatitis C virus is a major cause of
acute hepatitis and chronic liver disease,
including cirrhosis and liver cancer.
The number of new HCV infections has
declined.
Symptoms include jaundice, fatigue, dark
urine, abdominal pain, loss of appetite,
and nausea.
Quiz Question
Which form of hepatitis currently has no
available vaccination?
1. Hepatitis A
2. Hepatitis B
3. Hepatitis C
4. Hepatitis D
Transmission of Bloodborne
Pathogens
Bloodborne pathogens are transmitted when
contaminated blood or body fluids enter the
body of another person.
 In the workplace, transmission is most likely to
occur through:


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An accidental puncture by a sharp object, such as a needle,
knife, or broken glass
Contact between broken skin and infected body fluids
Contact between mucous membranes and infected body
fluids
Transmission of Bloodborne
Pathogens

Infected blood or body fluids can enter
into your body through:
 Open
sores
 Cuts
 Abrasions
 Acne
 Any
sort of damaged or broken skin such as
sunburn or blisters
 Eyes, nose, or mouth
Transmission of Bloodborne
Pathogens
It is also important to know how bloodborne
pathogens are not transmitted.
Bloodborne pathogens are not transmitted
by:
 Touching
an infected person
 Coughing or sneezing
 Using the same equipment
 Using the same toilets or water fountains
Quiz Question
Which of the following is a possible way for
transmission of bloodborne pathogens to
occur?
1. An employee cleans up blood or body fluids
without wearing protective gloves
2. A worker picking up broken glass from a
dropped container that has potentially
infectious material
3. Blood is accidentally splashed in someone’s
eye
4. All of the above
Methods of Compliance
The Bloodborne Pathogen Standard specifies
methods that are to be used to minimize
the transmission of bloodborne pathogens
in the work place. These methods
include:
 Universal
Precautions
 Engineering and Work Practice Controls
 Personal Protective Equipment
 Appropriate Housekeeping Measures
Methods of Compliance
Universal Precautions

The concept of
Universal Precautions
is that all blood and
potentially infectious
materials must be
treated as if they are
known to contain HIV,
HBV, or other
bloodborne pathogens.
BIOHAZARD
USE UNIVERSAL
PRECAUTIONS
Quiz Question
In a workplace that uses “universal precautions” for
infection control:
1.
All employees are universally considered subject to the
Bloodborne Pathogens standard, regardless of whether
they “reasonably anticipate” facing contact with blood
or other potentially infectious materials while
performing their job duties
2.
All rooms are labeled with the universal biohazard label
3.
All blood and other potentially infectious materials are
handled as if they were known to be infectious
4.
All of the above
Methods of Compliance
Work Practice Controls
 Hand
washing is one of the simplest and most
effective practices used to prevent the
transmission of bloodborne pathogens.
 Hand washing keeps you from transferring
contamination from your hands to other areas
of your body, or to other surfaces you may
contact later.
Methods of Compliance
Hand washing guidelines
 Thoroughly
wash hands or other exposed skin
with soap and water as soon as possible
following an occupational exposure to blood
or other potentially infectious materials.
 Wash your hands with soap and water every
time you remove your gloves.
 Use soft, antibacterial soap if possible.
Methods of Compliance
Hand washing guidelines (cont)
 If
skin or mucous membranes come in direct
contact with blood, wash or flush the area
with water as soon as possible.
 Where hand washing facilities are not
available, use antiseptic hand cleansers or
antiseptic towelettes.
Quiz Question
Which of the following is a true statement concerning hand
washing after occupational exposure to blood or other
potentially infectious materials?
1.
The best practice is to thoroughly wash your hands
with soap and water after any potential exposure.
2.
If your gloves are still intact when you remove them,
there is no need to wash your hands.
3.
Strong abrasive soaps are most effective in removing
contamination for hands.
4.
Using an antiseptic towelette is always an acceptable
alternative to washing your hands with soap and
water.
Methods of Compliance
Personal Hygiene
Examples of good personal hygiene practices
include:


Minimizing splashing, spraying, spattering and
generation of droplets when attending to an injured
person.
Refraining from eating, drinking, smoking, applying
cosmetics or lip balms, or handling contact lenses
where there is a reasonable likelihood of occupational
esposure.
Methods of Compliance
Personal Hygiene (cont)
 Keeping
food or drink away from refrigerators,
freezers, shelves, cabinets or on countertops
or bench tops where blood or other
potentially infectious materials are present.
Methods of Compliance
Personal Protective Equipment
The type of protective equipment appropriate for
your job varies with the task and the degree of
exposure you anticipate.

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Gloves are your number one line of defense. Gloves should
be made of latex, nitrile, rubber, or vinyl.
If you have cuts or sores on your hands, cover these with a
bandage as an additional precaution before donning your
gloves.
Methods of Compliance
Personal Protective Equipment
 Always
inspect your gloves thoroughly before
putting them on. Never use gloves that are
damaged.
 Remove contaminated gloves carefully, avoiding
touching the outside of the gloves with bare skin.
Dispose of contaminated gloves in a proper
container.
Methods of Compliance
Housekeeping
The worksite shall be maintained in a clean and
sanitary condition.
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All equipment and working surfaces shall be cleaned
and decontaminated after contact with potentially
infectious materials.
Bleach in a 1:10 dilution may be used. This is one
cup of bleach to nine cups of water.
After cleaning leave the bleach on the surface to air
dry of ten minutes.
Methods of Compliance
Housekeeping
 Any
broken glassware should not be picked
up directly with the hands.
 Broken glass should be put into a cardboard
box, sealed, and labeled.
Exposure
What to do if you have an exposure:
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Skin – wipe off blood and apply alcohol to the wound.
Eye, nose, or mouth – flush thoroughly with water.
If your clothing becomes soiled, change it as soon as
possible.
Shower or wash any skin that may be contaminated.
After removing gloves, wash your hands thoroughly
with soap and water.
Report an exposure to your supervisor immediately.