How to Identify the Individuals Who Are at Risk to Exposure to Blood Borne Pathogens- 10 Ways

Blood borne pathogens like hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus can be transmitted from an infected person to another via blood and other bodily fluids. Some jobs may have work-related exposure to blood and potentially contagious substances. Physicians, nurses, employees of laboratories, home health care workers, emergency medical technicians, dentists and dental laboratory technicians are some of the people who are at risk to exposure to blood borne pathogens. Some others may also have the risk of coming to contact with these harmful microorganisms.

Answering the following questions can help you find out whether you are risk to exposure to blood borne pathogens-

1. Do you handle human blood, including serum, white cells, platelets and whole blood?

2. Do you handle semen, pericardial fluid, vaginal secretions, amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid and/or synovial fluid?

3. Do you come to contact with any body fluid that is noticeably infected with blood?

4. Do you need to work with animals? Primates that are infected with hepatitis B or other blood borne pathogens can transmit disease causing microorganisms. If your job requires you to work with primates or your work area is the place where they are housed, you are under risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens.

5. Do you handle blood or blood products of animals infected with blood borne pathogens?

6. Do you handle unfixed human tissues or primary cell strains?

7. Do you work in a place where liquid solids or powders containing hepatitis B virus are prepared?

8. Do you perform tasks that may cause human or animal blood, body fluids, tissues or organs contacting with your skin or mucous membranes?

9. Do you handle needles and sharps instruments like knives, scissors and scalpels that have been used by physicians or other health care professionals who are working with human blood or other potentially infectious materials?

10. Do you carry out tasks where blood or bodily fluids come into contact with broken or unbroken skin and/or mucous membranes?

If your answer is yes to any of the above 10 questions, you can determine that you are at risk of exposure to blood borne pathogens. It is crucial to receive blood borne pathogen information and training, if you are occupationally exposed to these microorganisms. You need to appropriate protective clothes and equipment while working with blood and/or other bodily fluids. Before using them, you need to check thoroughly for damage.

You should remove and dispose them carefully to avoid self contamination.

You should use good work practices to reduce splashing of infectious materials. If blood or bodily fluid is splashed, you need to clean up the spills immediately to prevent the risk of infection as well as transmission. It is crucial to avoid breaking, bending and recapping contaminated needles and sharps. All equipment and surfaces that come in contact with blood should be cleaned and decontaminated. Knowing the blood borne pathogens standard can help you respond to any situations without fear.

Blood borne pathogens training can help you get an understanding of harmful microorganisms and diseases caused by them. It also helps get details about HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act) and how to comply with its standards.

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: Human Immunodeficiency Virus ,Hepatitis C,hepatitis B,Blood Borne Pathogens,HIV

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