BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS for Emergency Workers

1
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS for Emergency Workers

• Rural/Metro Fire
• Department
• Division of Training

2
What Are Bloodborne Pathogens?

• micro-organisms
• Hepatitis B (HBV)
• Hepatitis C (HCV)
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
• substances that are carried by the blood or other
  body fluids and cause illness or injury to the
  body.
• Viruses and bacteria are pathogens and many are
  bloodborne

3
DANGEROUS BUSINESS

• 12,000 Health Care Workers (HCWs) infected w/HBV
  in 1985
• 8,700 HCWs infected w/HBV annually decrease due
  to availability of HBV vaccine, universal
  precautions educational programs
• HBV is also sexually transmitted, not just HIV
• HBV more common more potent per drop of fluid
  than HIV
• Some HBV individuals have no symptoms may not
  know they are infected

4
What Can I Do?

• As an Emergency Worker, you are at risk for
  exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
• Presence of mind is your most important
  protection against contamination
• Know your company policy and follow it without
  exception

5
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS STANDARD

• Because these pathogens are so deadly and have
  spread so seriously, the government has issued
  safety rules for everyone who regularly comes
  into contact with blood or body fluids of other
  people
• The regulatory agency is OSHA and the rules are
  known as the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard

6
THE EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN

• An Exposure Control Plan (ECP) is developed and
  enforced by your employer to protect you from
  exposure to bloodborne pathogens
• The plan identifies those at risk for exposure,
  mandates educational training sessions for those
  included in the plan, and outlines guidelines to
  be followed to reduce the risk of occupational
  exposure

7
THE EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN

• Provides procedures to be followed if an exposure
  occurs
• The hepatitis B vaccine is made available to
  those identified as at potential risk for exposure

8
3 MOST COMMON PATHOGENS

• HIV, HBV, HCV are 3 of the most common
  bloodborne pathogens
• HIV infects 40,000 people annually
• 1 out of 250 people in the US are infected with
  HIV
• HBV infects 500,000 people annually
• 1 out of 20 people in the US are infected with
  HBV
• HCV infects 36,000 people annually

9
HIV

• HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus is the virus
  associated with AIDS
• There is no specific treatment for it
• There is no cure
• There is no preventative vaccine
• Over 3 million people in the USA are currently
  infected with HIV

10
HIV

• About 40,000 new cases of HIV infection are
  reported each year in the US
• One half of the people who have developed AIDS
  from HIV infection are already dead
• Its a fickle virus but it has been shown to
  survive in blood for 2 days

11
HIV Symptoms

• Symptoms of HIV infection can vary, but often
  include
• Weakness
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Nausea
• Headaches
• Diarrhea
• White coating on the tongue
• Weight loss
• Swollen lymph glands

12
HEPATITIS B

• The second of the most common bloodborne
  pathogens is the hepatitis B virus
• HBV is more easily transmitted than HCV or HIV
• 170 million people in the world are infected with
  HBV
• There are 1 - 1.5 million chronic Hep B carriers
  in the US
• 10 of infected individuals will develop chronic
  Hepatitis B

13
HEPATITIS B

• Chronic carriers can infect others
• HBV has been documented to live 52 days in a dry
  drop of blood
• 4-6,000 people die annually from chronic liver
  disease caused by HBV
• There is no specific treatment and no cure
• There is an available vaccine for HBV 3
  injections given over 6 months

14
HBV Symptoms

• Mild flu-like symptoms
• Fatigue
• Possible stomach pain
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Jaundice
• Darkened urine

15
HEPATITIS C

• HCV transmitted similar ways to HIV HBV
• The new case rate is growing at 250,000 per year
  in the US
• HCV has a high rate of chronic infection 3
  million cases presently in US
• 75 of people infected with HCV show no symptoms,
  but 85 will develop chronic disease

16
HEPATITIS C

• Chronic carriers may have no symptoms for up to
  30 years
• Hep C is the leading indicator for liver
  transplants
• 10,000 people die annually from Hep C related
  chronic liver disease
• There no cure, but newly approved antiviral drugs
  have been effective for some
• There is NO vaccine for HCV

17
BODY SUBSTANCE ISOLATION UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS

• Treat all blood and body fluids as if they were
  contaminated with a bloodborne pathogen

18
Bloodbourne Pathogen Transmission

• Bloodborne pathogens are transmitted through
  contact with infected human blood and other body
  fluids such as
• Semen
• Vaginal secretions
• Cerebrospinal fluid
• Synovial fluid
• Pleural fluid
• Peritoneal fluid
• Amniotic fluid
• Saliva

19
Skin Provides a Barrier

• Unbroken skin forms an impervious barrier against
  bloodborne pathogens. However, infected blood can
  enter your system through
• Open sores
• Cuts
• Abrasions
• Acne
• Any sort of damaged or broken skin such as
  sunburn or blisters

20
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• Use whatever is recommended to protect you from
  exposure
• - gloves, gowns, goggles, masks
• - face shields, full body suit

21
Mucous Membranes

• Bloodborne pathogens may also be transmitted
  through the mucous membranes of the
• Eyes
• Nose
• Mouth

22
WORK PRACTICES

• No recapping needles
• No handling contaminated sharps
• Discard sharps in puncture proof containers
  marked with biohazard symbol
• Discard non sharps (gloves, linen) in appropriate
  biohazard containers (not in sharps box)

23
If You Are Exposed

• Wash the exposed area thoroughly with soap and
  running water.
• Use non-abrasive, antibacterial soap
• Flush mouth, nose, eyes for 15 minutes if blood
  is splashed in mucous membranes

24
Other Actions if Exposed

• Report the exposure to your supervisor
• Fill out an exposure report form
• Request blood testing Hepatits B vaccination

25
ENGINEERING CONTROLS

• Use sharps containers and dont overfill
• Use safety needles, angiocaths, and other safety
  sharps

26
BIOHAZARD SYMBOL

• Become familiar with the symbol

27
CONTAIN/CLEAN-UP SPILLS

• Wearing proper attire, contain a blood or body
  fluid spill by using a 110 solution of bleach

28
FINAL TIPS

• Keep your hands out of your mouth
• Wash your hands each time you remove your gloves
  and as frequently as possible
• Hand washing is still the most important line of
  defense
• Complete the Hepatitis B vaccine series (3
  injections over 6 months) available through your
  employer

29
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, YOU MAY

• Talk with your Station Officer
• Check out some of the great links on the web
• Refer to the Infection Control Plan from your
  employer

30
The End