Blood Borne Pathogen: Study Guide for Blood Borne Pathogen Class

Chapter 5: Occupational Exposure

Occupational exposure refers to exposure to potentially harmful physical, chemical, biological agents, or environmental hazards such as high noise levels as a result of one's work.

Workplaces where there is a high risk of occupational exposure to hazardous materials are laboratories and medical facilities. For example, a health care professional may be exposed to HIV or another infectious agent through a needlestick injury.

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Professions at risk of Bloodborne Pathogens

• Housekeepers in health care facilities.
• Personnel in hospital laundries
• Workers in medical clinics in industrial, educational, and correctional facilities.
• Employees assigned to provide first aid.
• Physicians and physicians' assistants
• Nurses
• Other health departments employees in clinics
• Clinical and diagnostic laboratories staff and employees.
• Tissue bank personnel.
• Employees in blood banks and plasma centers
• Dentists, dental assistants, and dental laboratory technicians.
• Home health care staff and workers.
• The staff of nursing homes
• Hospice employees
• The staff of institutions for the developmentally disabled.
• Employees of funeral homes and mortuaries.
• HIV and HBV research laboratory workers.
• Employees handling infectious waste.
• Medical equipment service and repair personnel.
• Emergency medical technicians
• Paramedics and other emergency medical service providers.
• Firefighters
• Law enforcement personnel
• Correctional officers and staff

Procedures to follow when employees are exposed to blood or OPIM

• Remove contaminated PPE and place it in a biohazard labeled bag.
• Wash exposed areas with soap and water. Immediately flush mucous membranes with water.
• Report the exposure incident to your supervisor.
• If there is a blood spill, arrange for clean-up and decontamination immediately.
• Seek medical attention if first aid is needed or if signs of infection occur.
• Complete the Exposure Incident Forms within 24 hours after exposure.
• Follow instructions for follow-up as outlined in the Exposure Control Plan.

Chapter 6: What is HIV/AIDS?

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus is one of the common bloodborne pathogens. Also called HIV, this is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). It's persistent in blood, semen, vaginal fluids, pre-ejaculation, and breast milk. Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat, swollen lymph glands, and rash. It's essential to take HIV bloodborne pathogens training online to learn more about these.

Treatment: No vaccine, hormones for women, Hepatitis C drugs, antiviral medicines.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

AIDS or Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by HIV. The symptoms of AIDS include

• Sweating
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Dry coughing
• Chronic diarrhea
• White lesions on the tongue and mouth,
• Headache
• Weight loss

Treatment: No vaccine, hormones for women, Hepatitis C drugs, antiviral medicines.

Chapter 7: What is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is a bloodborne disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis B virus or HBV. Although it is usually transmitted through blood, other body fluids from an infected person with the virus can also cause the disease. Symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain/discomfort
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Dark urine
• Muscle pain
• Jaundice
• Joint pain.

Hepatitis B infection is called "acute" when it occurs within six months after a person is exposed to HBV. This infection can lead to a long-term, chronic Hepatitis B infection if left untreated, and the virus will remain in the victim's body. Hepatitis B can also lead to death, but there is a vaccination to prevent the disease.

Treatment: Hepatitis B vaccination, transplant

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Chapter 8: What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is the most common bloodborne pathogen infection in the United States. Among all the bloodborne diseases, Hepatitis C is the least likely to be transmitted through sexual contact; however, it can be transmitted sexually.

Hepatitis C is persistent in blood, transmitted through blood contact, sexual contact, drug use, and contaminated needle stick, about 1.8%. Symptoms include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain/discomfort, loss of appetite, fever, dark urine, muscle pain, jaundice, and joint pain.

Treatment: No vaccine available

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Chapter 9: What is Universal Precaution?

Universal precautions are guidelines followed by medical personnel to protect themselves from patients' infections and vice versa. For example, washing your hands before touching a patient is a simple way to prevent spreading diseases, especially when no other protective materials are available. Using gloves is another practical step in stopping the spread of germs between the first aider and the patient.

Rescuers can prevent cross infection in many ways, such as:

• Wear protective gloves.
• Cover cuts, sores, and wounds with a waterproof bandage.
• If large amounts of the infected person's body fluids are exposed, wear a plastic apron and eyeglasses.
• Use care around needles to prevent pricks.
• Watch out for broken glass.
• If the rescuer does come in direct contact with the injured person's body fluids, he should wash the area as soon as possible with soap and water. Particularly in the case of the eyes, nose, mouth, and open wounds. The rescuer should seek medical attention.
• Use a mask or face shield when administering CPR.
• Clean up the scene of the emergency safely when the rescue is complete.
• Rescuers should consult their doctor to see if a hepatitis B immunization is advisable before encountering possible infection sources.

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Chapter 10: Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment minimizes the risk of exposure to a bloodborne pathogen, especially for Health care workers. They need to consider the possible exposure sources and protect themselves from them before the exposure occurs. Also, more robust protection is required if the exposure extends over a longer period. For this reason, a variety of personal protective equipment (PPE) is available, including:

• Goggles: It should fit around and over the eyes.
• Gloves: To protect the hands
• Face shields: To protect the eyes, mouth, nose, and face. It should cover the forehead and wrap around the sides of the face. It should also extend below the chin.
• Gowns/aprons: To protect clothing and skin. It should be resistant to fluid penetration.
• Masks: To protect the mouth and nose. Mask should cover the nose and mouth fully and should be resistant to fluid penetration.
• Respirators: To protect the respiratory tract from airborne agents, such as influenza.

Fluid-proof safety equipment such as rubber gloves can also prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens.

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PPE Guidelines

1. Always wear PPE in exposure situations.
2. Remove or replace PPE that is damaged, punctured, or lost its ability to protect you from bloodborne pathogens.
3. Remove and dispose of PPE before leaving the work area.
4. PPE should be accessible if you work in an area with routine exposure to blood or OPIM
5. Contaminated equipment should be placed in appropriately labeled bags or containers until it is disposed of, decontaminated, or laundered.

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Chapter 11: Work Practice and Engineering Controls

Work practice controls are measures used to change how work practices are carried out to ensure safety. Examples of work practice controls are removing and disposing of PPE as soon as possible after use and isolating areas of contamination to prevent others from being exposed.

Engineering controls are those measures used to isolate or remove hazards from the work environment. Examples of engineering controls include self-sheathing needles, labeling infectious materials, cleaning, disposing of, documenting, and containing.

Sharps with Engineered Sharps Injury Protections (SESIP)

• Retractable needles
• Retractable finger-prick
• Needleless systems.

Proper recapping of needles

• One-handed motion
• Mechanical device

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Chapter 13: What is Emergency Action Plan?

Employers must provide immediate confidential medical evaluation and follow-up when a Health Care Provider has an exposure incident, such as a needle stick. These incidents need to be reported immediately. The source of the possibly infectious materials can also be tested for bloodborne pathogens, giving vital information to the HCP and developing a treatment plan. Infection following exposure to a bloodborne pathogen depends on a few variables, including

• Pathogen present during the exposure
• Type of exposure
• Amount of blood or OPIM involved in the exposure
• The concentration of the virus in the blood during the exposure

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Chapter 13: Reporting an Incident

Even after taking precautionary measures, you can still be exposed to blood or body fluids. Reporting an exposure incident to your employer or manager will help you get the treatment you need and help your employer identify and reduce exposure causes.

• The employer must follow OSHA standards and document the exposure incident/sharps injuries.
• The employer must keep these reports confidential.
• Seek treatment from a medical professional.
• Required OSHA forms should not delay any medical attention or counseling you may need.
• The employer will continue with forms according to their policies.

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What Training Does OSHA Require for BBP?‍

Under OSHA's bloodborne pathogen standard, employees with occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) are mandated to undergo Bloodborne Pathogens training annually. This training requirement is applicable irrespective of the employees' prior training or education levels. The Bloodborne Pathogens training course covers essential information regarding the risks associated with exposure to bloodborne pathogens, preventive measures, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and emergency response procedures. OSHA's emphasis on annual training reflects the dynamic nature of healthcare environments and the need for continuous education to ensure the safety of workers who may come into contact with blood or other infectious materials.

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What is an Employer Control Plan?

An Employer Exposure Control Plan, mandated by 29 CFR 1910.1030(c) of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard established by OSHA, serves as a comprehensive strategy to manage and minimize employee exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The primary objective of the ECP is to establish a set of procedures designed to either eliminate or significantly reduce the risk of employee exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. The plan typically includes components such as engineering controls, work practice controls, provision of personal protective equipment, training programs, and methods for handling and disposing of potentially infectious materials. By implementing an ECP, employers aim to create a safe working environment that complies with OSHA regulations and protects the health and well-being of employees.

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What is the main focus of the OSHA bloodborne pathogens Standard?

The OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard primarily focuses on providing a framework to minimize the risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Bloodborne pathogens include viruses such as HIV, HBV (Hepatitis B Virus), and HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) that could be present in human blood, tissues, and certain body fluids. The standard lays out guidelines for identifying and evaluating potential exposure, implementing preventive measures, and establishing procedures for responding to incidents involving blood or OPIM. The emphasis is on safeguarding healthcare and other workers who may come into contact with these infectious materials, outlining the necessary precautions, protective equipment, training, and medical follow-up to ensure a safe and healthful workplace. Overall, the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard plays a crucial role in promoting occupational safety and preventing the transmission of bloodborne diseases in various workplace settings.

What are the four methods of Compliance with Bloodborne Pathogens Standards?

‍Health care workers must follow standard Precautions to effectively minimize or eliminate exposure to bloodborne pathogens. These include Universal Precautions, Engineering Controls, Work Practice Controls, and PPE. You can take our FREE BBP Practice test to test your knowledge in Bloodborne Pathogens.