Bloodborne Pathogens Updated 1.21.13
Purpose OSHA s Blood-borne Pathogens Standard protects anyone with a job-related risk of contracting a blood-borne borne disease The standard outlines preventative procedures for employers and employees to follow to prevent on-the-job exposure to blood-borne borne pathogens.
Blood-borne Pathogens Blood-borne pathogens can cause serious, even fatal, diseases. For example: HIV: which causes AIDS, attacks the body s immune system, and has no cure. Symptoms can take years to develop. HBV: Hepatitis B, more common and infectious than HIV. It attacks the liver; it may have no symptoms and can cause serious liver ailments.
Contact With Potentially Infectious Materials May Transmit Blood-borne Pathogens
Transmission of a Blood-borne Pathogen May Result From: Sexual contact or sharing drug needles with an infected person. Injuries from infected needles or other sharps (Sharps include needles, scalpels, broken glass, exposed ends of dental wires, and anything that can pierce or cut skin).
Transmission of a Blood-borne Pathogen May Result From (Con t) Direct contact between broken or chapped skin and infected body fluids, including: Blood, dried blood, and blood contaminated body fluids and surfaces. Human tissues or organs. Semen, vaginal secretions, saliva in dental procedures, and cerebrospinal, amniotic, synovial, pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal fluid.
Treat all blood and other potentially infectious body fluids as if they are infected.
Exposure Control Plan This plan can be found on the hospital intranet: Policies>Safety>Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan. A copy of the regulatory text of this standard is maintained in the Safety Office. (A copy is available at the employee s request).
All Employees Must Practice: Standard Precautions Transmission Based Precautions Which includes: * Droplet Precautions * Airborne Infection Isolation * Contact Precautions
Precautions The CDC guidelines recommend the use of Standard and Transmission Based Precautions: -This assumes that ALL body fluids, except sweat, are potentially infectious. -This has the benefit of protecting against most communicable diseases, not just blood-borne pathogens. Follow these precautions in ANY potential exposure situation.
Follow Work Practice Controls to Reduce Chance of Exposure Wash hands immediately after: - Helping a patient - Removing gloves or personal protective equipment (PPE) - Being in contact with potentially infectious materials. Handle faucets with a paper towel. Wash thoroughly with soap and water, then rinse thoroughly. Dry with a clean towel, not the one used on the faucets.
Follow Work Practice Controls to Reduce Chance of Exposure (con t) Do not eat, drink, or apply makeup in areas with potential contamination. Use labeled, closed, leak-proof containers to transfer or dispose of anything contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials. If a container s outside is contaminated, place it in a second labeled, leak-proof container. Avoid splashing, spraying, spattering, or creating droplets of blood or other fluids.
Follow Work Practice Controls to Reduce Chance of Exposure (con t) Dispose of used or contaminated sharps in special labeled puncture-resistant leak-proof biohazard containers. Dispose regulated waste, other than sharps, in a container that is closeable, leak-proof, and labeled with a biohazard label; these containers are lined with a red biohazard trash bag. Never dispose of blood or regulated medical waste in a regular trash container.
Follow Work Practice Controls to Reduce Chance of Exposure (con t) Use disposable airway equipment, resuscitation bags, mechanical respiratory assistance devices, and pocket mouth-to-mouth resuscitation devices. When necessary, use splash guards and other barriers against contact with blood-borne borne pathogens.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) You are required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) whenever it is reasonably anticipated that you will have contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials. OSHA requires employers to provide, launder, clean, repair, and dispose of PPE properly. Select the proper size and wear the appropriate PPE for the task at hand.
Donning PPE in the Correct Order 1 st Gown 2 nd - Mark or Respirator 3 rd - Goggles or Face Shield 4 th - Gloves
Where to Remove PPE Remove PPE at doorway before leaving the patient room or in anteroom. Remove respirator outside room after door has been closed. Ensure that hand hygiene facilities and trash receptacles are available at the point needed.
Removal of PPE in the Correct Order 1 st - Gloves 2 nd - Goggles or Face Shield 3 rd - Mask or Respirator 4 th - Gown The correct order of donning and removing PPE is key to protecting yourself and co-workers from contamination. Make it a habit to practice the correct sequence of PPE donning and removal to make it second nature.
Blood-borne Pathogens PPE Guidelines Task Applying pressure to control bleeding Assisting with invasive procedures: Lumbar puncture, bone marrow, thoracentesis, paracentesis, central line insertion Bath, routine Assessment of Hazard Exposure to bodily fluids and contracting disease Exposure to bodily fluids Needle sticks Sharps exposure Exposure to chemicals (soap, shampoo) Protection X hand-washing, gloves S gown/plastic apron, mask, eye protection X hand-washing, gloves, gown/plastic apron, mask, eye protection X hand-washing Blood, administration of Exposure to bodily fluids Needle stick potential X hand-washing, gloves S eye protection Breast milk; handling pumped or expressed amounts Potential for blood exposure if nipples cracked X hand-washing, gloves
Engineering Controls Use engineering controls to eliminate or minimize a blood-borne pathogen exposure. Use sharp safe devices to prevent needle stick injuries. Examples include: -Retractable and covered needles -Baxter Interlink Needle-less IV system -Easy Glide Needles -BD retractable heel sticks -Sharps Containers -Biohazard Waste Containers
Avoid Contact With Contaminated Sharps Sharps are the biggest cause of job-related blood-borne pathogen exposure. Follow all OSHA and facility-required precautions. Never break or shear contaminated needles. Do not bend, recap, or remove contaminated sharps from syringe unless required by a medical procedure. Only put needles or other sharps in a sharps container.
Avoid Contact With Contaminated Sharps (cont) Consider alternative (non-needle system) techniques. Place all used sharps in the identified biohazard sharps containers. NEVER put your hand into a sharps container. DO NOT overfill sharps containers. Fill only to the full line.
Pay Attention to Biohazard Labels And Colors OSHA requires that all containers that hold blood or other infectious materials be RED or have fluorescent orange or orange-redred labels that have the word Biohazard and the symbol for Biohazard
Practice Good Housekeeping Follow Precautions when handling laundry. Bag contaminated laundry where it was used: use leak proof bags and label according to procedures. Wear gloves and handle laundry as little as possible. Wear impervious gloves when handling, transporting, or working near contaminated waste. Follow OSHA required decontamination and cleaning schedule.
Practice Good Housekeeping con t Clean and decontaminate all equipment, surfaces, reusable pails, etc. that had contact with potentially infections materials. DO NOT pick up potentially contaminated glass with your hands. Keep biomedical waste separate from regular waste. Keep dirty linen separated from clean linen.
Participate in Medical Protection Programs Have a hepatitis B vaccine if offered. -To refuse, you must sign a form with the option to change your mind later. Take advantage of confidential medical evaluation and follow-up. If your blood, and that of the source patient, are tested you will learn the results.
Participate in Medical Protection Programs- Cont OSHA requires employers to keep confidential medical records on all employees who could have job-related exposure to blood-borne borne pathogens. You have the right to examine and copy the records, which must cover any hepatitis B vaccinations and results of exposure incidents.
Conclusion Contact with potentially infectious materials may transmit blood-borne pathogens. If you have any questions on Blood-borne Pathogens, please contact the Safety Department at 664-5383.