Blood-Borne Diseases

People most at risk for hepatitis B include:

- babies born to infected mothers - people having unprotected sex with infected partners - healthcare workers who have contact with infected bodily fluids

You cannot get a blood-borne disease by:

- contact with saliva or sweat - being bitten by a mosquito - kissing, coughing, or sneezing - sharing water bottles - hugging or other casual contact

Acute Infection Symptoms:

- fever - fatigue - dark urine - jaundice - abdominal pain

Help in the Community For HIV/AIDS

- free or low-cost testing - support groups - advocacy and awareness-raising events - access to health care - education

Chronic Hepatitis B Infections May Cause:

- liver cancer - cirrhosis - end-stage liver disease

People most at risk for hepatitis C include:

- people receiving contaminated blood products before 1992 - babies born to infected mothers - healthcare workers who have contact with infected bodily fluids

Prevention of Blood-Borne Diseases Methods:

- sharps disposal containers - biohazard labeling - disinfection and sterilization - bodily fluid cleanup and first-aid training - vaccination

People most at risk for HIV/AIDS include:

- those having unprotected sex with infected partners - IV drug users who share needles with infected people

Symptoms of AIDS

- white spots or lesions on the tongues and mouth - persistent fatigue - weight loss - visual symptoms - rashes - headaches

How long can the hepatitis B virus survive on environmental services?

The hepatitis B virus may survive outside the body for up to seven days on environmental surfaces.

Which of the following signs and symptoms may indicate a hepatitis B infection? Check all that apply. a. dark urine b. abdominal pain c. itchy rash d. blurred vision

a and b - Always see a medical professional if you experience symptoms of disease, including dark urine and abdominal pain.

Select the statements that complete the sentence accurately. It is especially important to get tested if... a. you suspect you have had contact with blood from a person with HIV/AIDS b. a relative has been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS c. you have had an accidental needlestick in the hospital d. you have kissed someone with HIV/AIDS

a and c

Which of the following individuals are at risk for contracting HIV? Check all that apply. a. a male with multiple sex partners b. a friend of a person diagnosed with AIDS c. a healthcare worker taking blood samples from patients at a clinic d. the brother of a seventeen-year-old female who has just tested HIV-positive

a and c - Only contact with blood or OPIMs presents a risk of getting HIV/AIDS. Regular, day-to-day contact with friends or family who have HIV/AIDS does not present a risk of transmission.

Which of the following are classified as blood-borne diseases? Check all that apply. a. AIDS b. cancer c. influenza d. diabetes e. hepatitis C

a and e - Blood-borne diseases, like AIDS and hepatitis C are transmitted through the blood. Other infections and diseases such as influenza (the flu) are spread by coughing and sneezing. Diabetes and cancer may be influenced by lifestyle or genetic factors.

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

a disease that attacks the body's immune system

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

a government agency that provides rules and regulations that employers must follow

vaccine

a medication that provides immunity from a specific disease

sterilization

a process that kills all infectious agents, including spores, on the surface of an object

disinfection

a process that kills most or all infectious agents on the surface of an object

sharps container

a rigid, plastic container used to dispose of used needles and other sharp medical equipment such as IV catheters

biohazard

a substance that potentially carries an infectious agent that is dangerous to humans

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

a treatment given as soon as possible after a person is exposed to a disease in order to prevent the disease from harming the patient

blood-borne disease

a type of infection that can be transmitted through the blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM)

hepatitis B

a viral infection that can be transmitted through blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIMs) and may be prevented by getting a vaccine

hepatitis C

a viral infection that can be transmitted through blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIMs) and most efficiently transmitted through the blood rather than through sexual contact

Which of the following describes obstacles a person with HIV/AIDS might face? Check all that apply. a. depression b. financial trouble c. frequent doctor visits d. lack of resources that offer help

a, b, and c - There are many private, nonprofit, and government-run organizations that are available support people living with HIV/AIDS.

Employee training in blood-borne pathogens includes which of the following components? Check all that apply. a. recognizing biohazard labels b. defining blood-borne pathogens c. practice cleaning up a blood spill d. explaining how to prevent transmission by using universal precautions

a, b, and d

A surgeon is exposed to the HIV virus during a surgical procedure. What must her employer do after the exposure? a. write an incident report b. help the surgeon find a new job c. provide post-exposure prophylaxis d. provide the surgeon with testing and follow-up care

a, c, and d - Laws prevent employers from discriminating against individuals based on their HIV status. Laws require employers to provide immediate and follow-up care relating to exposure to a blood-borne disease.

HIV tests are able to detect _____________ in the blood.

antibodies

Check the statements that accurately complete the sentence. HIV-positive patients can help prevent spreading the infection by... a. avoiding contact with the public b. disposing of used needles correctly c. telling their sex partners they are infected d. wearing gloves when they shake people's hands

b and c

Which items should be thrown away in a sharps container? Check all that apply. a. gloves b. needles c. IV catheters d. empty medicine vials

b and c

Chronic hepatitis C may lead to which of the following? Check all that apply. a. diabetes b. liver cancer c. kidney cancer d. chronic live disease

b and d

Your cousin finds out that her boyfriend is infected with a blood-borne disease. She is currently not infected. What must she avoid in order to prevent getting the disease? Check all that apply. a. kissing b. unprotected sex c. sharing food and drinks d. contact with his blood e. any contact at all

b and d - You can still have close relationships with people who are infected with blood-borne diseases. The best way to protect yourself is to avoid risky behaviors in your personal life and use personal protective equipment in healthcare and emergency first-aid situations.

Which of the following services would probably be offered in a local health center that helps patients with blood-borne diseases? Check all that apply. a. AIDS vaccinations b. quality medical care c. free or low-cost testing d. emotional support groups

b, c, and d

This symbol indicates... a. sharps b. biohazard c. blood-borne pathogens d. medical use only

b. biohazard

What can be used to decontaminate a surface that has been in contact with blood carrying hepatitis B virus? a. water b. disinfectant c. soap and water d. antibacterial soap

b. disinfectant

What is true of blood-borne illnesses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS? a. all of them have a cure b. none of them have a cure c. none of them have treatments d. all of them produce serious symptoms

b. none of them have a cure

Most people are vaccinated against hepatitis B when they are _______________.

babies

Which of the following items would help reduce the risk of transmitting blood-borne disease in a hospital? Check all that apply. a. trash can b. recycling bin c. sharps container d. biohazard container

c and d - Properly labeled waste containers are essential for the healthcare environment in order to isolate the potentially hazardous materials.

Which of the following has one or more risk factors for hepatitis C? a. a forty-year-old alcoholic woman with stomach pain b. an infant born to a mother who does not have hepatitis C c. a fifty-five-year-old male who received a blood transfusion in 1985 d. a twenty-five-year-old nurse who uses gloves each time she works with patients

c. a fifty-five-year-old male who received a blood transfusion in 1985 - Many people were unknowingly infected with hepatitis C before there was a way to test for the disease. Anyone who received blood or blood products before 1992 should be tested for hepatitis C.

What is a needlestick? a. a cap placed over a used needle b. a piece of personal protective equipment c. an incident involving being punctured with a used needle d. a container with a biohazard label for disposing of used needles

c. an incident involved being punctured with a used needles

How can hepatitis B be treated? a. hepatitis B can be treated with antibiotics b. hepatitis B can be treated with a vaccination c. hepatitis B can be treated with antiviral drugs d. there are no treatments for hepatitis B

c. hepatitis B can be treated with antiviral drugs

In the event of an accidental exposure to infected fluids in the workplace, which of the following offers the best chance of reducing the risk of getting the disease? a. vaccination b. immediate surgery c. post-exposure prophylaxis d. washing with soap and water

c. post-exposure prophylaxis

How long can hepatitis B virus survive outside the human body? a. zero days b. three days c. seven days d. fourteen days

c. seven days

Why is sterilization, not disinfection, recommended for contaminated surgical instruments before it is used on another patient? a. sterilization is faster and cheaper than disinfection b. sterilization will kill most of the worst infectious agents c. sterilization will kill all blood-borne pathogens, including spores

c. sterilization will kill all blood-borne pathogens, including spores

If a person gets tested for HIV and the results are negative, why might that person wait a few weeks and get tested again? a. HIV tests have a high false negative rate b. most people are exposed to HIV on a daily basis c. the person's test results were most likely switched with someone else's d. HIV antibodies take several weeks to develop enough to be detected

d. HIV antibodies take several weeks to develop enough to be detected - HIV tests may not be accurate if they are taken right after the suspected exposure. It is a good idea to repeat a test if it comes back negative.

Which government agency is responsible for writing safety standards for employers? a. National Institutes of Health b. Food and Drug Administration c. Environment Protection Agency d. Occupational Health and Safety Administration

d. Occupational Health and Safety Administration

After cleaning up a bodily fluid spill, used materials should be thrown in a... a. washtub b. trash can c. recycling bin d. biohazard container

d. biohazard container - Proper disposal of materials used in bodily fluid spills ensures the safety of other healthcare workers and patients.

In which of the following scenarios is transmission of a blood-borne disease possible? a. being bitten by a mosquito b. sharing a spoon with an HIV-positive friend c. sitting in a waiting room with an infected patient d. having unprotected sex with an infected partner

d. having unprotected sex with an infected partner

Why is getting a hepatitis B vaccine important for healthcare workers? a. it reduces the risk of HIV becoming AIDS b. it can prevent both hepatitis B and C c. it prevents the spread of hepatitis B from healthcare worker to patient d. it can prevent getting hepatitis B infection if accidentally exposed to the virus

d. it can prevent getting hepatitis B infection if accidentally exposed to the virus - The hepatitis B vaccination is a simple way to protect healthcare workers and others from getting infected with the hepatitis B disease.

What major effect does AIDS have on the body? a. it damages the liver b. it causes rapid blood loss c. it leads to paralysis of the spine d. it leaves the body susceptible to infection

d. it leaves the body susceptible to infection

latent

dormant, inactive

An estimated one in _________ people who have HIV do not know they have it.

five

Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIMs)

infectious materials such as semen, vaginal secretions, amniotic fluid, and other body fluids contaminated with blood

acute

over a short period of time

chronic

persistant and long-term

immune system

the body's defense against invading pathogens, or disease-causing germs

needlestick

the event that occurs when a syringe or other needle accidentally sticks someone

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

the virus that causes AIDS

When cleaning up small or large bodily fluid spills, it is always recommended to ________________.

wear gloves