In today’s environment full of health issues and infectious diseases, it is important to understand potential hazards presented by blood borne pathogens. We know that blood borne pathogens like HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) are transmitted from an infected person to another through blood. Exposure to infected blood components can also increase the risk of developing a disease. Fluids from the heart, lungs, vagina, saliva and semen are potentially infectious and may cause serious health complications.

Risks You May Not Be Aware Of

If you are at risk of exposure to blood and body fluids, you must have a basic understanding of blood borne pathogens. You may not know about certain practices increases the risk of infection.

– Administering medications from the same syringe to different patients may increase the risk of infection, even if you change the needle.

– If the syringe is prepared in patient treatment areas like patient rooms and procedure rooms, the chance of contamination increases through direct or indirect contact with potentially infectious surfaces or equipment.

– Using bags of intravenous solution or medicine as a source for more than one patient may increase the likelihood of transmission of blood borne pathogens.

– If the medication vials are not discarded, sterility is compromised and this in turn greatly increases the risk of infection.

– Using glucometers for more than one patient without proper disinfestations can increase the possibility of cross infection.

– Poor hygiene practices in certain health care offices can increase the risk of blood borne pathogen transmission. Not separating clean and dirty areas for medical equipment and poor infection control while monitoring glucose level are some of the practices that raise the risk of contamination.

Risks Posed By Environmental Contamination

Anyone can be the source of Hepatitis B, HIV or other blood borne pathogens. They may not even know that they are carriers. Hepatitis B and C virus can survive in environment and can be transmitted to other people, if the surfaces and equipment are not cleaned and disinfected properly.

Hepatitis C virus can survive in syringes for up to 63 days. Hepatitis B can survive in the environment even if there is no visible blood. Environmental contamination may lead to hepatitis B transmission, especially during testing of blood glucose.

Emergencies can arise anytime without warning. If you see a person is bleeding, your immediate reaction is to help the victim. If you do not have sufficient knowledge about how to protect yourself when you come into contact with human blood or bodily fluids, you place yourself at great risk. It is therefore important to learn about types of blood borne pathogens, modes of transmission, methods to control risk of exposure and emergency procedure to be followed when exposed to blood or body fluid. The right knowledge can be helpful in this direction.

Identifying the risks of blood borne pathogens transmission and following proper practices like wearing protective clothes and gloves and washing hands thoroughly can help minimize or prevent the risk of transmitting harmful microorganisms. Wash hands the right way and be safer.

For more information, please visit our bloodborne pathogens website.

For more information, please visit our bloodborne pathogens website http://www.bbpexams.com/

Author Bio: For more information, please visit our bloodborne pathogens website.

Category: Advice
Keywords: Housekeeping,training,engineering controls ,Blood Borne Pathogens ,housekeeping employee,hepatitis,m