Blood borne Pathogens Guidelines for Healthcare Workers-Protecting Yourself with Standard Precautions

Transcription

1 Blood borne Pathogens Guidelines for Healthcare Workers-Protecting Yourself with Standard Precautions Protect Yourself from Blood borne Pathogens As a healthcare worker, you may be exposed to germs that come from blood and other body fluids. Such germs, called blood borne pathogens, can make you very sick. By following your facility's guidelines and using standard precautions, you can protect yourself from blood borne pathogens. Read to learn more. What Are Standard Precautions? Standard precautions are guidelines developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These guidelines help prevent the spread of blood borne disease. Some blood borne pathogens cause severe illness, and even death. Use standard precautions at all times, with all patients. This helps protect you and your coworkers from becoming infected. All healthcare workers who come in contact with blood and body fluids must protect themselves from blood borne pathogens. Know How to Stay Safe Using standard precautions and following your facility's guidelines will help keep you safe at work. This booklet will teach you: Which blood borne pathogens you should be most aware of. Knowing how to protect yourself from these germs can help keep you, and people around you, from becoming sick. When and how to wash your hands. Proper hand washing is one of the best ways to keep blood borne pathogens (and other germs) from spreading. How to safely handle used sharps (needles or other sharp objects). This will reduce your chances of being exposed to blood borne pathogens. How wearing gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) can protect you from blood borne pathogens. How to clean and dispose of contaminated items such as soiled laundry, used equipment, and anything else that touches a patient. What to do if you are exposed to blood or other body fluids. Also, know where to find your facility's exposure control plan (the guidelines you must follow if you have an exposure). For more information, read on. What Are Blood borne Pathogens? Blood or other body fluids can contain pathogens (germs) that cause disease. These germs can infect you. You can also spread these germs to others, including your loved ones. Some blood borne pathogens cause severe, even fatal, illness. How Blood borne Pathogens Spread Blood borne pathogens can spread through blood or OPIM (other potentially infectious materials). Examples of OPIM include amniotic fluid, body tissues, and spinal fluid.* Blood borne germs can enter your body if infected blood or OPIM touches any body opening or break in your skin. This includes your eyes, nose, and mouth.

2 (Acne, Hangnails, Rashes, Cuts, Dry Skin). Disease-carrying blood or body fluids can enter your body through any opening in your skin. If they do, you may become infected. Blood borne Diseases You Should Know About Many diseases can be spread through blood and OPIM. Of these, three of the most dangerous are: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Read on to learn more about these viruses and the diseases they cause. Understanding HIV (human immunodeficiency Virus) HIV causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). AIDS is a serious illness that makes it harder for the body to fight infection. It can lead to death. If you become infected with HIV, you can then spread the virus to others. What Is HIV? HIV is a virus that weakens your immune system (your body's defense against infection). This makes you much more likely to become severely ill, even from diseases that your body would normally be able to fight. Know that: There's no vaccine for HIV infection. Symptoms of HIV infection may appear within 6 weeks after someone becomes exposed. These can include fever, swollen glands, rash, and feeling weak or very tired. Some people have no symptoms. There's no cure for HIV infection. Someone who is infected with HIV will have it for the rest of his or her life. What Are the Facts? Although HIV is rarely transmitted in a healthcare setting, around 1 million Americans are infected. Know that: 3 or 4 out of every 1,000 people have HIV and can pass the virus to others. Since HIV weakens the immune system, having HIV increases someone's risk of getting sick from many other diseases. Healthcare workers in certain jobs are more likely than others to be exposed to HIV. Consult your supervisor or your facility's exposure control plan to learn more about your risk. Contact with spilled blood is one way you could be exposed to blood borne pathogens. Understanding HBV (Hepatitis B Virus) Hepatitis is a disease that affects the liver. There are many kinds of hepatitis. One of the most common is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis B can lead to serious illness and death. If you become infected, you can then spread HBV to others. What Is HBV? HBV causes inflammation (swelling) and scar tissue to form in the liver. Scar tissue can keep the liver from doing its work. If not treated, HBV infection can lead to cirrhosis (severe scarring of the liver), liver cancer, and death. Know that: A vaccine (given as a series of shots) can help prevent HBV infection. If you come in contact with blood or OPIM at work, your facility provides this vaccine to you for free.

3 Many people have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they can include fever, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), and feeling weak or very tired. Most people with hepatitis B get over the infection. But about 6 out of 100 people develop a chronic (lifelong) HBV infection. What are the Facts? Hundreds of healthcare workers become infected with HBV each year. By getting the hepatitis B vaccine and using standard precautions, you can keep this from happening to you. Know that: 4 out of every 1,000 people have HBV and can pass the virus to others. HBV can survive on sharps and other surfaces for at least 1 week. Healthcare workers in certain jobs are more likely than others to be exposed to HBV. Consult your supervisor or your facility's exposure control plan to learn more about your risk. Rubbing your eyes while you work could expose you to blood borne pathogens. Understanding HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes another type of hepatitis. It can also damage the liver and lead to severe illness and death. If you become infected, you can then spread HCV to others. What Is HCV? Like HBV, hepatitis C virus also causes inflammation and scarring in the liver. This can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death. HCV infection can take many years to develop. Most people with HCV carry the virus for the rest of their lives. Know that: There s no vaccine for HCV Most people have no symptoms. Many people don't know they're infected until 20 to 30 years later, when the liver is already severely damaged. If symptoms do occur, they can include feeling weak or very tired and having other flu like symptoms. Most people with hepatitis C do not get over the infection. About 85 out of 100 people develop a chronic HCV infection. What Are the Facts? No one is sure how many healthcare workers have become infected with HCV on the job. Know that: 12 out of every 1,000 people have HCV and can pass the virus to others. Every year, about 10,000 people die from HCV infection. Healthcare workers in certain jobs are more likely than others to be exposed to HCV. Consult your supervisor or your facility's exposure control plan to learn more about your risk. Being stuck by a used needle could expose you to blood borne pathogens. Standard Precautions at Work Germs are too tiny to be seen. And infection often doesn't cause symptoms. So you can't tell by looking at someone whether he or she is infected. This is why standard precautions are used during the care of all patientswhether or not they are known to have an infection.

4 You can't tell by looking at patients whether they have an infection or not. Using standard precautions with all patients will help keep infection from spreading. When to Use Standard Precautions Standard precautions help protect you from blood borne and other germs. In a healthcare facility, standard precautions should be used with all patients. Use them any time you may have contact with: Broken skin (including rashes). Mucous membranes. Any body fluid (except sweat). Any body substance (such as feces). Contaminated surfaces and objects. How to Use Standard Precautions Using standard precautions means regular hand washing. It also means using proper personal protective equipment (PPE). To use standard precautions: Wash your hands (including after gloves are removed). Wear gloves, masks, and other PPE whenever you could be exposed to blood or OPIM. Follow the guidelines. Handle and dispose of used equipment, linens, and waste safely. Avoid eating, smoking, or personal grooming in places where you may be exposed to infection. Procedures You Should Use Your facility has procedures designed to protect you from exposure and infection. These are known as work practice controls. They include: Washing your hands. Wearing the proper PPE when you're supposed to. Properly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and equipment. Cleaning up blood spills properly.. Never storing food, drink, or personal items in refrigerators, on shelves, or in other places where blood and OPIM are stored. Learn your facility's work practice controls and when they should be used. Talk to your supervisor if you have questions. Tools You Should Use Your facility provides tools that can help protect you from becoming infected. These tools are referred to as engineering controls. They include: Hand washing facilities, which may include eyewash stations and foot-operated sinks and soap dispensers. Sharps safety devices, such as needleless IV systems, syringes with shielded needles, and self-sheathing needles. Sharps disposal containers. Splash guards. Use the tools your facility provides. Talk to your supervisor if you have questions about when and how to use these tools. Wear the appropriate PPE for the task you're performing.

5 Use engineering controls such as hand washing stations, sharps safety devices, and sharps containers. Hand washing on the Job Frequent and thorough hand washing is the best way to stop germs from spreading. The sooner you wash your hands after exposure, the less likely you are to catch or spread infection. When to Wash Your Hands Wash your hands regularly throughout the day, especially: When first arriving at work and before leaving. Before and after treating a patient. After touching blood or any other body fluid or substance, broken skin, or mucous membranes. After touching an object or surface that may be contaminated. As soon as you remove your gloves and other PPE. (Gloves may have tiny holes, too small to be seen, through which germs can travel.) Before and after eating, drinking, smoking, and after using the restroom. Washing your hands is the best way to stop the spread of infection. How to Wash Your Hands First, carefully remove gloves and other PPE. Follow your facility's guidelines for dealing with jewelry. Then, follow these steps: Use warm water and plenty of soap. Work up a good lather. Don't just wipe-scrub well. Clean your whole hand, under your nails, between your fingers, and up your wrists. Lather for at least 10 to 15 seconds. Rinse your hands well. Let the water run off your fingertips, not up your wrists. Dry your hands well with clean paper towels. Use paper towels to turn off the faucet and open the door so you don't recontaminate your hands. Follow your guidelines on when and how to use waterless hand cleansers. After only 6 seconds of washing, hands are still covered with germs. After 15 seconds of washing, fewer germs are left. After 30 seconds of washing, hands are mostly free of germs. Handing Needles and Other Sharps Used needles, lancets, blades, and other sharp devices (known as sharps) can cut or prick you. To protect yourself and others from exposure to infection, take the time to handle sharps safely. Handling Sharps Safely Always move carefully while handling sharps. To prevent exposure to blood and GPIM: Never throw a sharp into the trash. And don't put a used sharp down. Dispose of it in a marked sharps container as soon as you're done with it. Don't bend, break, or recap needles. Never remove used needles from disposable syringes.

6 Get help before using sharps around confused or uncooperative patients. Make sure used sharps don't get left in linens or on bedside tables. Never clean up broken glass by hand. Even when precautions are taken, injuries can happen. Using Sharps Containers Containers for the disposal of sharps will be provided by a facility. These containers must be puncture-proof and leak proof. They must be clearly marked with a biohazard label. Follow these tips for safe use of sharps containers: Never overfill a sharps container. Dispose of sharps containers according to your facility's guidelines when they're 2/3 full. Never force a sharp into a sharps container. Be careful and watch as you place sharps into the container. Never reach into a sharps container. Never open, empty, or reuse a sharps container. Immediately after use, dispose of sharps in a marked sharps container. When a sharps container reaches 2/3 full, close the lid and dispose of it promptly. Using PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) Gloves and other PPE protect you by creating a barrier between you and germs. You will be given guidelines for what PPE to wear and when. Know and follow your facility's guidelines. When to Wear Gloves Before wearing gloves, wash and dry your hands well. Cover cuts, scratches, or scrapes with bandages. Also: Wear gloves whenever you may have contact with blood, GPIM, broken skin, or mucous membranes. Wear gloves when touching any item that is or may be contaminated. Choose gloves that fit. Check gloves for cracks and tears after you put them on. Avoid touching uncontaminated areas or items with contaminated gloves. Remove gloves right after use. Wash hands and put on clean gloves between patients and procedures. Do not reuse disposable gloves. Gloves should be worn when you have contact with blood or OPIM. In some cases, other PPE is also needed. Removing Gloves Safely To remove gloves without spreading germs, never touch your skin with the outside of either glove. Follow these steps: 1. Grasp the palm of one glove near your wrist. Carefully pull the glove off. 2. Hold the glove in the palm of the still-gloved hand. Slip two fingers under the wrist of the remaining glove. 3. Pull the glove until it comes off inside out. The first glove should end up inside the glove you just took off. Dispose of the gloves safely. 4. Always wash your hands after removing gloves. Gloves can have holes in them that are too small to be seen. When to Wear Other PPE

7 Gowns, masks, goggles, and other PPE can help keep you and your patients safe. In addition to gloves, you may need to wear: A gown, apron, or lab coat to protect your body and clothing. Wear a fluid resistant gown or apron, or an impermeable lab coat if body fluids may splash or spray. For most situations, body protection need not be sterile. Remove body protection as soon as possible when it becomes soiled or wet. Mouth, nose, and eye protection if any body fluid may splash or spray. Wear a fluid-resistant mask with goggles or a face shield. Respiratory protection if required. Follow guidelines. Ask your supervisor if you have questions about where to find PPE. Disposing of PPE Right after removing gloves and other disposable items, put them into the correct trash bin. In some cases, contaminated items must be discarded into special biohazard containers. Ask your supervisor for details. Reusable gowns and other linens should be placed in a marked laundry bin. Put reusable equipment in the proper place to be cleaned and disinfected. Dispose of used PPE in the proper bin. Talk to your supervisor if you have questions. Cleaning Up Contamination Carefully follow your facility's guidelines for cleaning up substances that may spread germs. Treat all used items, body fluids and substances, and soiled laundry as if they could infect you. Safe Housekeeping When cleaning, follow these guidelines: Wear the right PPE for the job. Cleaning may require special gloves. Follow your facility's guidelines. If fluids or dust may splash or spray, wear an apron, gown, mask, goggles, face shield, and/or shoe covers. Clean up all spills of blood and other body fluids or substances carefully. Use a spill kit, if provided. Use disinfectant approved by facility. Throw out all "single use" items after one use. Don't pick up broken glass with your hands, even if you're wearing gloves. Use tongs or a broom and dustpan. Handling laundry Handle soiled laundry carefully and as little as possible. Never shake out laundry. Be alert for hidden sharps. Follow these guidelines: Wear gloves. If needed, wear a mask and goggles and a gown to protect your mouth, eyes, and clothing. Hold soiled laundry away from your body to avoid contaminating your clothing. Put soiled laundry right into the approved container. Don't put it down on any surface. Place wet laundry in leak proof bags. Cleaning Rooms and Equipment Use approved disinfectant and follow these guidelines: Clean all surfaces or objects that may be contaminated. This includes bedside tables, bed rails, telephones, call bells, doorknobs, bathrooms, and light switches. Clean bins and pails. Empty trash containers regularly.. After each use, thoroughly disinfect all equipment and other items that are shared among patients. Clean work areas at least once a shift.

8 Clean up spills using the method approved by your facility. Carefully roll laundry to prevent being stuck by a hidden sharp. Use disinfectant to clean any item after it touches a patient. If You Are Exposed To Blood or OPIM Even when using standard precautions, you may be exposed to blood borne pathogens on the job. Know the guidelines stated in your facility's exposure control plan. These guidelines must be followed in cases of sharps exposures, splashes or sprays of blood or OPIM, or other exposures. Talk to your supervisor or your facility's infection control department to learn more. Get Medical Care If you're exposed to blood or OPIM: Wash the area well with soap and water. If your eyes are exposed, rinse them well with water only (don't use soap). Get medical attention right away. Time can be crucial in preventing infection. Your blood may need to be tested for HBV, HCV, and HIV. You may also receive vaccinations or post-exposure treatment to reduce your chances of becoming infected. Don't try to evaluate your own exposure. Report the Exposure Report the exposure to your supervisor or other facility personnel. The patient whose blood or OPIM you were exposed to (if this is known) can be tested for a blood borne infection. This helps determine whether you are at risk.