04 Jul Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP)

Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP)

Safety at All Levels

Individuals infected with a bloodborne pathogen may not know they are infectious because symptoms may not appear immediately. For this reason, employees should treat all human blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) as potentially infectious and use appropriate precautions whenever occupational exposure may occur.

Bloodborne pathogens of primary occupational concern include Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

How Exposure Can Occur

Occupational exposure may occur when infected blood or OPIM comes into contact with:

• The eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Cuts, abrasions, burns, rashes, or other non-intact skin.
• A needlestick or cut from a contaminated sharp object.
• Contaminated items or surfaces when the contamination is subsequently transferred to non-intact skin or a mucous membrane.

Simply touching contaminated material with intact skin is not normally considered an exposure incident, but employees should still avoid contact and follow appropriate hygiene and decontamination procedures.

HBV, HCV, and HIV

Employees should understand several important facts about bloodborne pathogens:

• HBV is highly infectious and can remain infectious on environmental surfaces for at least seven days.
• An effective vaccine is available to prevent Hepatitis B.
• HCV can cause both acute and chronic liver disease. There is currently no vaccine for Hepatitis C.
• HIV attacks the immune system and can lead to AIDS if untreated. There is currently no preventive HIV vaccine, although effective treatment can control the infection.
• A person infected with HBV, HCV, or HIV may have few or no symptoms and may not know they are infected.

Because appearance cannot determine whether someone is infectious, employees must consistently follow established precautions.

Universal Precautions

When providing first aid or performing another task where contact with blood or OPIM is reasonably anticipated:

• Wear disposable, impervious gloves appropriate for the anticipated exposure.
• Use safety glasses, goggles, and/or a face shield when splashes to the eyes, nose, or mouth are possible.
• Use a CPR barrier or other appropriate resuscitation device rather than performing unprotected mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
• Cover existing cuts, abrasions, and other non-intact skin.
• Avoid handling contaminated sharps whenever possible and dispose of them in approved sharps containers.
• Remove contaminated PPE carefully to avoid contact with blood or OPIM.
• Wash hands immediately after removing gloves and following potential exposure.

Exposure Incidents

If blood or OPIM contacts the eyes, nose, mouth, non-intact skin, or enters the body through a needlestick, cut, or other puncture:

1. Immediately wash needlesticks, cuts, and exposed skin with soap and water.
2. Flush mucous membranes with water immediately.
3. Report the exposure to your supervisor as soon as possible.
4. Obtain the required confidential medical evaluation and post-exposure follow-up promptly.

Do not delay reporting an exposure. Certain post-exposure treatments are time-sensitive and should be evaluated as soon as possible.

Cleaning Blood and Body Fluid Spills

Only trained and authorized employees should clean blood or OPIM spills.

• Wear appropriate gloves and other PPE based on the anticipated exposure.
• Restrict access to the contaminated area until cleanup is complete.
• Remove visible contamination using appropriate absorbent materials.
• Clean and decontaminate affected surfaces with an EPA-registered disinfectant effective against bloodborne pathogens or an appropriate bleach solution prepared and used according to established procedures.
• Never pick up contaminated broken glass directly with your hands. Use tongs, forceps, a brush and dustpan, or another mechanical means.
• Place contaminated disposable materials in appropriately labeled or color-coded containers as required.
• Wash hands thoroughly after removing PPE.

Remember

You cannot tell by looking at someone whether their blood is infectious. Treat blood and OPIM as potentially infectious, use appropriate PPE and work practices, and immediately report any occupational exposure.