OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens

what are the components of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard?

1. Exposure Control Plan 2. Preventive measures-- Hepatitis B vaccination and standard precautions 3. Methods of control-- engineering and work practice controls; personal protective equipment; housekeeping; and labeling 4. What to do if an exposure incident occur

standard precautions

CDC precautions used in the care of all patients regardless of their diagnosis or possible infection status; this category combines universal and body substance precautions guidelines state that all blood and body fluids should be handled as if they are infectious and capable of transmitting disease applicable to blood, body fluids, secretions (except sweat*), excretions, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes

Which of the following is NOT classified as a bloodborne pathogen? Hepatitis A virus (HAV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), HIV

HAV is not considered a bloodborne pathogen HAV's main mode of transmission is the fecal-oral route and may be introduced into the body through the ingestion of contaminated water or food HBV, HCV, and HIV are bloodborne pathogens, which means they are primarily transmitted through blood and can cause disease

Which of the following is a vaccine-preventable infection? Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, All of the above

HBV infection can be prevented by receiving the HBV vaccine it is available at no cost to health care workers currently, there is no vaccine to prevent infection with HCV or HIV

what are some preventative measures that can be taken to protect yourself from infection as a result of exposure to bloodborne pathogens?

Hepatitis B vaccination, HCV treatment, and observance of standard precautions

True or False... Clinical laboratory personnel who perform processing and testing of specimens from patients suspected of Ebola virus infection should work in a certified class II biosafety cabinet (BSC), in addition to wearing the required PPE.

True Clinical laboratory personnel who perform processing and testing of specimens from patients suspected of Ebola virus infection should work in a certified class II biosafety cabinet (BSC), in addition to wearing the required PPE

Occupational Exposure Standard

a legal standard to guard against occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogen issued by OSHA in December 1991 and revised on November 27, 2001

what is a serious complication from HBV infection?

about 10% of adults infected with hepatitis B advance to chronic hepatitis, which lasts for years chronic hepatitis B can eventually cause liver scarring (known as cirrhosis), liver failure, and, more rarely, liver cancer

what group of people account for the majority of HCV infections?

according to the CDC, persons born between 1945-1965 account for three-fourths of the cases of HCV infection this group is also at the greatest risk for hepatocellular carcinoma and other HCV-related liver diseases the CDC recommends a one-time HCV testing for all persons born between 1945-1965

what is the incubation period of HBV?

after the exposure, there is an incubation period that lasts 75 days on average, but it can vary from 30 to 180 days many individuals with acute HBV will have no symptoms at all some will have a mild illness with loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, and fatigue about 30% of infected individuals will develop clinical hepatitis with jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes) due to liver dysfunction

what is the difference between an exposure incident and a parenteral exposure?

an exposure incident occurs when blood or another potentially infectious body fluid comes into direct contact with mucous membranes or non-intact skin parenteral exposure means exposure occurring as a result of piercing the skin barrier through needlesticks, cuts, or abrasions

what body fluids are most likely to transmit HBV?

blood, semen, vaginal secretions, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva contaminated with blood during dental procedures, any fluid visibly contaminated with blood sweat is not considered infectious for HBV unless it is contaminated with blood

give a summary of HCV

classification: Flavivirus genome: ssRNA transmission: large or repeated direct percutaneous exposure to blood incubation period: 8 weeks symptoms: fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, headache, jaundice chronic condition: chronic hepatitis

give a summary of HBV

classification: Hepadnavirus genome: dsDNA transmission: needles, sex, mother to child incubation period: 11 weeks symptoms: fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, headache, jaundice chronic condition: chronic hepatitis

give a summary of HIV

classification: Lentivirus genome: ssRNA transmission: needles, sex, mother to child incubation period: 2 weeks symptoms: fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, fever, headache, jaundice chronic condition: AIDS

how is HBV transmitted?

contact with HBV may occur when infected blood or OPIM is introduced through an opening or sore in the skin; via a puncture with a contaminated sharp such as a needle; or through direct contact with mucous membranes that line the insides of the mouth, nose, and eyes outside of the healthcare setting, HBV is spread most often through shared needles used to inject drugs, through sexual contact, and from mother to child before or during birth the amount of blood needed to cause HBV infection is very small-- one milliliter of blood contains up to 100 million infectious particles HBV can also survive outside of the body for seven days

describe HIV infection

days to weeks after exposure, the patient may begin to complain of fever, headache, and fatigue-- this may also be accompanied by a rash for the first several months after the infection, the exposed individual may be HIV-antibody negative and the disease may not be detected-- however, the individual is still infective and can transmit the disease during this period the disease may remain silent in the patient for months to years, even with no treatment when the immune system is weakened enough, the patient will develop opportunistic infections and be classified as having acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

engineering controls

devices that isolate the worker from the hazard of exposure examples include self-sheathing needles, sharps disposal containers, disposable resuscitation bags, biological safety cabinets, hand washing facilities, and splash shields

Acquiring an infection as a result of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens can be prevented by taking which of the following precautions? Use appropriate engineering controls and personal protective equipment (PPE). Don't shake hands with patients or clients. Ask patients if they have ever been diagnosed with hepatitis or HIV so that special precautions are taken before performing a procedure, such as collecting a blood sample. Wear gloves everywhere, including when exiting the laboratory.

engineering controls, such as safety needles and splash guards, and PPE will help to protect the worker from acquiring an infection as a result of exposure to blood or other body fluids that may be contaminated with bloodborne pathogens

what are some examples of personal protective equipment (PPE)?

fluid-resistant gowns or lab coats, shoe covers, aprons, gloves, caps, masks, and eye protection

describe HCV infection?

like HBV infection, HCV infection results in damage to the liver approximately 75 to 85% of individuals who are infected with Hepatitis C and develop antibodies in their serum (seroconvert) progress to a chronic form of the disease and about 70% of the chronically infected individuals will develop active liver disease five to twelve weeks after the exposure, some individuals may develop flu-like symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, tiredness, and loss of appetite these may last from weeks to months approximately 80% of infected individuals will have no symptoms at all persons born between 1945-1965 account for three-fourths of the cases of HCV infection-- the CDC recommends a one-time HCV testing for all persons born between 1945-1965

what are some examples of work practice controls?

no smoking; no eating or drinking; no applying cosmetics or lip balm; no handling contact lenses; food and beverages cannot be kept in refrigerators, freezers, shelves, cabinets, or countertops where blood or OPIM are present; no mouth pipetting

Which of the following would NOT offer sufficient facial protection if splashes or sprays of blood or other potentially infectious materials may occur? Prescription glasses, Goggles worn with fluid-resistant mask, Splash guard, Full-face shield

ordinary eyeglasses do not offer sufficient facial protection

Exposure Control Plan

plan that outlines specific work practices to prevent exposure to infectious material and identifies step-by-step procedures to follow when exposures do occur this document explains how the employer will implement the OSHA Standard

monoclonal antibodies (mAbs)

proteins that behave like natural antibodies to prevent viruses from replicating

hepatitis B vaccine

recombinant vaccine for HBV that uses genetically-altered bakers yeast and contains no blood components the series includes three shots in the upper arm given over a six-month period side effects are minimal symptoms such as temporary soreness at the injection site, mild fever, or joint pain may occur but are rare OSHA standard requires that employers provide the vaccine free of charge to you if your occupation puts you at risk for hepatitis B infection

Which of the following are considered engineering controls? Face shield, Splash guards, Gloves, Lab coats

splash guards

what are some HIV preventions?

standard precautions, proper work practices, engineering controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE)

describe HCV testing and treatment

the CDC recommends a one-time HCV testing for all persons born between 1945-1965, since this population accounts for three-fourths of the cases of HCV infection although there is still no vaccine for HCV, there are now several treatment options available in October 2014, the FDA approved a once-daily tablet treatment for chronic HCV genotype 1, the most common form of HCV in the U.S.-- this treatment has proven cure rates of 94-99% (an infected individual is considered cured if the virus is not detected in the blood 12 weeks after completion of treatment) since then, several other treatments have been approved, including one that is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with chronic HCV genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 infection-- some of these treatments have also led to cures

What should you do if you accidentally stick your finger with a contaminated needle?

the incident must be reported immediately to your supervisor after washing the wound with soap and water this is important to you to determine the infection transmission risk and ensure you are given appropriate medical treatment if needed

what are the three most common types of hepatitis?

the most common types of hepatic viral infections are hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV) infections HAV is not considered a bloodborne pathogen-- HAV's main mode of transmission is the fecal-oral route and may be introduced into the body through the ingestion of contaminated water or food HBV and HCV are bloodborne pathogens, which means they are primarily transmitted through blood and can cause disease

human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

the virus that causes AIDS attacks and kills the helper T-cells helper T-cells are part of a group of white blood cells known as lymphocytes that are essential for fighting off infections can be contracted through blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) in the same manner as HBV and HCV also spread via a puncture with a contaminated sharp such as a needle; sexual contact; and from a mother to her child before or during birth

hepatitis C virus (HCV)

the virus that causes hepatitis C infection and is transmitted by contact with infected blood or other body fluids has been found in blood and has the same occupational transmission routes as HBV infection generally occurs through large or repeated direct percutaneous exposure to blood, most often through injection-drug use smaller numbers of infections have been associated with sexual contact, occupational exposure of health care workers, and transfusion (once a common means of transmission but now rare in the United States since blood screening for HCV became available in 1992) can survive outside the body at room temperature, on environmental surfaces, for up to 3 weeks the most common form is HCV genotype 1

describe treatments for Ebola virus infection

there are currently two FDA-approved treatments for adults and children infected with Zaire ebolavirus Inmazeb™, approved in October 2020, is a combination of three monoclonal antibodies Ebanga™, approved in December 2020, is a single monoclonal antibody mAbs bind to the Ebola virus's glycoprotein and thus prevent the virus from entering the host cells both of these treatments were evaluated during the 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo-- "Overall survival was much higher for patients receiving either of the two treatments that are now approved by the FDA. Neither Inmazeb™ nor Ebanga™ have been evaluated for efficacy against species other than Zaire ebolavirus."

hepatitis B virus (HBV)

virus that causes inflammation of the liver; transmitted through any body fluid, including vaginal secretions, semen, and blood spread most often through contact with infected blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIM), including body fluids, unfixed tissues or organs (other than intact skin), and virus-containing culture media or other solutions