Bloodborne Pathogens

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Bloodborne Pathogens
An overview of OSHA regulations and UNI procedures

• University of Northern Iowa
• EHS Training Program
• Wellness Resource Lab

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Web Based Training was Created for UNI Employees
with the Intent to

• Expand awareness of existing environmental,
  health and safety policies/procedures
• Provide information to assist in evaluating and
  improving each work environment
• Assist in determining the need for more advanced
  training

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Is that blood on the floor? I must tell someone!
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Topics Covered

• Transmission of Potentially Infectious Materials
• Common Bloodborne Diseases
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Controlling Potentially Infectious Materials
• Labeling Potentially Infectious Materials
• Exposure Control Plan

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Who needs this training?

• Any employee or student who may be
  occupationally exposed to blood and other
  potentially infectious materials at the
  University of Northern Iowa

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Definition
Bloodborne Pathogens are classified as anything
that contains human blood, blood products, or
blood components
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TRANSMISSION OF POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS HUMAN BODY
FLUIDS
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Potentially Infectious Human Body Fluids Include

• Saliva in dental procedures
• Semen and vaginal secretions
• Cerebrospinal, synovial, pleural, pericardial,
  peritoneal, and amniotic fluids
• Body fluids visibly contaminated with blood
• HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures and HIV
  or HBV-containing culture mediums or other
  solutions

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Modes of Transmission for Bloodborne Pathogens

• Any form of broken skin, which includes
• Abrasions
• Blisters
• Burns
• Cuts
• Eyes, nose, mouth
• Punctures from sharp objects

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Transmission
Bloodborne Pathogens are not passed through the
air like cold and flu germs.

• They are most commonly transmitted by
• Accidental puncture of skin by sharp
  contaminated objects
• Contact of broken skin
• Contact of mucous membrane and body fluids

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COMMONBLOODBORNE DISEASES
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Universal Precautions

• The single most important measure to prevent
  transmission of HBV and HIV is to treat all human
  blood and other potentially
• infectious materials
• AS IF THEY ARE
• infected with HBV and HIV.

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Bloodborne Diseases Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome

• Over 1 million Americans have AIDS
• The individuals immune system is depleted
• If infected, he or she may not have symptoms
  for years
• There is no cure or vaccination but there are
  treatment options available to prolong an
  individuals life

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Bloodborne Diseases Hepatitis B

• The most common is a serious liver infection
• Over 12 million people in the U.S. are infected
• Up to 100,000 new people will be infected each
  year
• If infected, one may or may not have symptoms
• Symptoms may feel like the flu
• Effects can be acute or chronic
• Can be treated if detected early
• Vaccination is available

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Bloodborne Diseases Hepatitis C

• Over 3.9 million Americans have been infected.
• There are approximately 25,000 new cases per
  year.
• Chronic infection usually results in chronic
  liver disease. With about 5,000 deaths per year.
  
• Infected individuals usually show no symptoms.
• It is treatable if detected early.
• There is no vaccination available.

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PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
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1 Method of Control
Personal protective equipment must be used
throughout the duration of bloodborne pathogen
exposure
It is essential to have a barrier between you and
the potentially infectious material.
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Personal Protective Equipment

• Equipment includes
• latex, rubber or vinyl gloves
• gowns
• laboratory coats
• face shields or masks
• eye protection

Protective barriers are intended to prevent blood
or other potentially infectious materials from
passing through to workers clothing, skin, or
mucous membranes.
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When Using Protective Gloves

• Inspect for defects before use
• Remove gloves and wash hands if gloves have
• become contaminated
• Do not snap gloves when removing them
• Grasp gloves at the wrist and pull off, inside
  out
• Discard in biohazard waste container
• Always wash hands after removing gloves
• Never reuse disposable gloves

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Disposal of Personal Protective Equipment

• Remove all personal protective equipment
  immediately after contamination or leaving the
  work area
• Place all personal protective equipment in an
  appropriately designated area or container for
  storing, washing, decontaminating, or discarding
• Replace disposable, gloves as soon as possible
  when contaminated or if torn, punctured, or
  barrier function is compromised
• Do not reuse disposable gloves

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CONTROLLING POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS MATERIALS
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Methods of Control
Engineering Controls

• Discard contaminated items like needles, broken
  glass, scalpels, or other sharp items, in
  puncture-resistant, leak-proof containers,
  color-coded red or labeled, according to the
  standard
• Use puncture-resistant, leak-proof containers,
  color-coded red or labeled to store contaminated
  reusable sharps until they are properly
  reprocessed
• Store and process reusable contaminated equipment
  that ensures safe handling
• Use puncture-resistant, leak-proof containers to
  collect, handle, process, store, transport, or
  ship blood specimens and potentially infectious
  materials. Label these specimens if shipped
  outside the facility

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Methods of Control (cont.)
Workplace Controls

• As soon as gloves are removed, wash hands to
  prevent any contact with blood or other
  potentially infectious materials.
• If exposure to the eye has occurred, use an eye
  wash immediately.
• Unless required to do so by specific medical
  procedures or the employer, do not bend, recap,
  or remove contaminated needles.

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Methods of Control (cont.)
Workplace Controls

• Do not eat, drink, smoke, apply cosmetics, or
  handle contact lenses in areas of potential
  bloodborne pathogen exposure
• Do not store food or drink in refrigerators or on
  shelves where blood or potentially infectious
  materials are present
• Disinfect area as soon as work is complete
• Use plastic instead of glass when available

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LABELING POTENTIALLY INFECTIOUS MATERIALS
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Labels and Marking Systems
Every discarded bloodborne pathogen must be
placed in a container with either of these labels
attached.
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Labels and Marking Systems

• Universal Biohazard labels should be on all
  containers that are holding biohazard materials.
• Doors or areas where biohazard material is stored
  should also be labeled.
• Red bags may also be used to
  indicate the storage of
  biohazard materials.

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EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN
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Clean up of blood spills will be done by
custodians only.
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Decontamination
Anything that comes in contact with blood or
other biohazard materials must be disinfected
before reuse or discarded appropriately
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UNI Exposure Control Plan

• Documentation
• Accurate records must be kept of each
  departments
• written exposure control plan at UNI
• Employee training must also be recorded
• Review
• Each plan must be reviewed and updated annually
• to address university changes
• Information
• Go to http//www.vpaf.uni.edu/ehso/programs/blood
  borne2009.pdf to view the UNI Physical Plants
  Exposure Control Plan

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Reporting of Exposure Incidents
Employee informs supervisor Departmental
exposure control plan in effect
Incident occurs
Supervisor collects all necessary information
for reports
Supervisor provides copy of the Bloodborne
Pathogen Standard to employee before he/she goes
to the hospital
Documentation of the incident using a post
exposure incident confidential record is
recorded
For example, a Physical Plant employee will
contact his/her direct supervisor who will then
contact the Safety Manager who will make
arrangements to get the employee to Sartori
Hospital.
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Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up

• Documentation of the route of exposure and
  circumstances related to the incident
• Identification of the potential source individual
  and status
• Results of testing the source individual will be
  made available to the exposed employee
• Employee will be offered the option of having
  their blood collected for testing. Blood will be
  kept on hand for 90 days then disposed of
  properly
• Employee will be offered post exposure
  prophylaxis in accordance with current U.S.
  Public Health Services recommendations
• Employee will be provided appropriate counseling

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Training Requirements

• Initial Training
• Anyone who may be introduced to an area where
  occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens may
  occur at UNI
• Annual Refresher Training
• Required every 12 months to refresh the details
  of bloodborne pathogen exposure procedures at UNI

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Additional Training or Information

• Contact
• The Environmental Health and Safety Office at
  273-7269
• The Wellness Resource Lab at 273-6119
• Or Email
• Joan Thompson joan.thompson_at_uni.edu
• Wendel Reece wendel.reece_at_uni.edu