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Section 2 I Blood borne
Pathogens and OPIM
Blood borne Pathogens and OPIM
Both blood and other potentially
Infectious materials (OPIM) may contain bloodmobile pathogens
Blood borne pathogens are bacteria and viruses present In
the blood and body fluids of an Infected person that can cause
disease to others The following tables contain essential Information
about bloodmobile pathogens and OPIM
Blood borne pathogens include
but is not limited to :
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
Hepatitis B Virus (HCV)
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
OPIM
Includes:
Human body fluids;
Seminal (fluid from
the male genitals)
Vaginal (fluid from the female genitals)
Cerebrospinal (fluid surrounding spinal cord and brain)
Synovial (fluid that lubricates joint surfaces)
Pleural (fluid lining the lungs and chest cavity)
Pericardial (fluid surrounding the heart)
Peritoneal (fluid that is contained in the abdomen)
Amniotic (fluid that protects the fetus through pregnancy)
All body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible
to differentiate between body fluids.
Any unfixed human tissue or organ
(other than intact skin) from a living or dead human. (i.e.,laboratory
tissue specimens)
HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures, and
HIV-or HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions, and
blood, organs, or other tissues from laboratory animals infected
with HIV or HBV.
Note: Feces, nasal secretions, saliva,
sputnum. Sweat, tears, urine and vomit are not considered
potentially infections for bloodborne pathogens unless they
are visibly bloody. Still you should observe universal precautions
around all body fluids to reduce the potential for exposure
to other microorganisms that can cause other types of infections.
Hepatitis
B Virus (HBV)
Description:
HBV is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks and
causes inflammation of the liver. HBV can cause lifelong infection,
scarring of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.
Incidence:
Number of new infections per year
has declined from an average of 260,000 in the 1980’s
to about 60,000 in 2004.
Highest rate of disease occurs in those between ages of
20 and 49.
Greatest decline has happened among children and adolescents
due to routine hepatitis B vaccination
There are an estimated 1.25 million chronically infected
Americans, of whom 20-30% acquired their infection in childhood.
The percentage of cases with occupational exposure to blood
is now approximately 0.5% following widespread hepatitis
B vaccination of healthcare workers.
Signs &
Symptoms
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
Fatigue
Abdominal Pain
Loss of Appetite
Nausea, vomiting
Joint pain
Note: About 30% of the infected persons
have no signs or symptoms. Signs and symptoms are less common
in children than adults.
Transmission:
Occurs when blood from an infected
person enters the body of a person who is not infected.
HBV is spread through having sex
with an infected person without using a condom, by injecting
drugs with shared needles, through needle sticks or sharps
exposures on the job or from an infected mother to her baby
during birth.
Persons at risk for HBV infection might also be at risk
for infection with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) or HIV.
You cannot get HBV from:
Sneezing or coughing
Kissing or hugging
Sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses
Breastfeeding
Food or water
Casual contact (such as an office setting)
Prevention:
Hepatitis B vaccine is the best protection
If you are having sex, but not with one steady partner,
use latex condoms correctly and every time you have sex.
Proper use may reduce transmission.
If you are pregnant, you should get a blood test for hepatitis
B.
Do not inject drugs. Never share drugs, needles or syringes.
Do not share personal care items that might have blood on
them (for example, razors, or toothbrushes).
Consider the risks if you are thinking about getting a tattoo
or body piercing.
If you have or have had hepatitis B, do not donate blood,
organs or tissue.
If you are a designated first aid provider, health care
or public safety worker, assume that the blood and other
body fluids from all patients are potentially infectious.
Always follow universal precautions and safely handle needles
and other sharps. Get vaccinated against hepatitis B.
Hepatitis
B Vaccine
Description:
The HBV vaccine is used to prevent infection by the hepatitis
B virus. The vaccine works by causing your body to produce
its own protection (antibodies) against the disease. The
vaccine is made without any human blood or blood products
or any other substances of human origin and cannot give
you the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or the human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV)
Effectiveness
Medical, scientific and public
health communities strongly endorse using hepatitis B vaccine
as a safe and effective way to prevent disease and death.
Everyone under 19 years old should get vaccinated against
Hepatitis B
Safety
Scientific data shows that
hepatitis B vaccines are very safe for infants, children
and adults.
There is no confirmed evidence which indicates that hepatitis
B vaccine can cause chronic illnesses.
To assure a high standard of safety with vaccines, several
federal agencies continually assess and research possible
or potential health effects that could be associated with
vaccines.
Method of Administration
Injected
Vaccine is available only from your doctor or other authorized
health care professional.
Benefits
Hepatitis B vaccine prevents
hepatitis B disease and its serious consequences like liver
cancer.
OSHA blood borne pathogen standard requires that the employer
make the hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series available
at no cost to all employees who have occupational exposure.
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