The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) estimated that blood borne pathogen exposure causes around 200 deaths and 9000 infections every year. Getting sufficient knowledge about blood borne pathogens is the key to protect yourself against the risk of exposure. If your job requires you to perform some tasks that may lead to exposure to these harmful microorganisms, your employer should provide you with training during work hours.

Here is some important information about blood borne pathogens.

1. What Are Blood Borne Pathogens?

Blood borne pathogens are disease causing bacteria present in blood and are spread to others when they come to contact with blood that contains the pathogen. Blood borne pathogens include malaria, syphilis, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, arboviral infection, brucellosis, babesiosis and leptospirosis. However, hepatitis B and C virus and Human immunodeficiency virus are the most dangerous pathogens that can cause serious diseases and death. It is crucial to know about these pathogens, as you may come to contact with them at work.

2. General Precautions

Universal precautions are important to prevent the risk of infection and transmission. OSHA recommends to treat all blood and bodily fluids, as if they were infected.

3. Modes Of Transmission

Blood borne pathogens are passed on when infected blood or body fluids like semen, vaginal secretions or cerebral fluid enters the body of another person. If cuts or sores get contacted with contaminated blood or body fluids, the chances are more to get infection. An accidental puncture by a needle or sharp infected with the virus can also cause transmission. Sexual contact is another important mode of transmission of blood borne pathogens. Hepatitis B virus can live up to 7 days even on dried blood. Indirect transmission occurs, if dried blood infected with this virus comes to contact with mucous membranes or an open cut.

4. Hand Washing

Hand washing is the most effective way to prevent blood borne pathogen transmission. Washing your hands with soap and warm water for 15 to 20 seconds can give you maximum protection against infection.

5. Protective Barriers

If you are an employee in a health care facility or working in some other fields that may expose you to blood borne pathogens, you should wear protective clothing and gloves. Protecting eye and face by wearing goggles and face masks can help protect your face and mucous membranes from viruses.

6. Disposal

Contaminated materials should be disposed properly in containers or bags. Any clothing or items soiled with blood or body fluids should be disposed. You should wear gloves while handling clothes that are visibly contaminated with blood.

7. Injury Prevention

If you are assigned with tasks that require you to handle needles and other sharps, you should do them cautiously. You should dispose them carefully in a puncture resistant container. You should not bend, break or recap needles and sharps.

8. Vaccination

If your job involves coming to contact with hepatitis B virus, you should receive vaccination. This helps reduce your risk of getting infection significantly.

Getting as much information about blood borne pathogens as possible can help you control or minimize the risk of infection.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act) Privacy Rule requires covered entity (health care provider and health care clearing house) to maintain employee exposure records.

For more information, please visit our Bloodborne Pathogen Training website.

For more information, please visit our Bloodborne Pathogen Training website http://www.bbpexams.com/bloodborne_pathogen_training.html

Author Bio: For more information, please visit our Bloodborne Pathogen Training website.

Category: Medical Business
Keywords: malaria,hepatitis B virus,human immunodeficiency virus,hepatitis C virus,OSHA,Blood Borne Pathogens