• Login
  • Contact
  • COVID-19
  • Share
  • Facebook
  • Vimeo
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
MedcorMedcorMedcorMedcor
  • About
    • Medcor Health Navigation
    • Leadership
    • Wellness
    • Mission, Vision and Values
  • Services
    • Onsite Clinic
    • Telehealth
    • Safety
    • Support Services
  • Resources
    • Health Tips
    • Insights
    • Technology
  • Careers
    • Culture
    • Equal Employment and Diversity

Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures

    Home Health Tips Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures
    Next Previous
    Workplace Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) Exposures

    Bloodborne Pathogen Exposures

    By Mayuri Bhakta, FNP-BC, Director of Clinical Affairs | Comments are Closed | 18 November, 2020 0

    The CDC estimates that 5.6 million workers in the healthcare industry and related occupations are at risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

    What are bloodborne pathogens (BBP)?

    Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms found in a person’s blood or other body fluids that can cause disease in humans. These pathogens include hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS. People who are exposed to bloodborne pathogens are at risk for developing serious or life-threatening illnesses.

    Bloodborne pathogens can be found in blood, which includes blood components and products made from blood, or in other potentially infectious materials. Other potentially infectious materials include semen, vaginal secretions, any body fluids contaminated with blood, and human tissue.

    What is a BBP exposure?

    A bloodborne pathogen exposure can happen if you are stuck with a needle or are cut with a sharp object which has been contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials. A BBP exposure can also occur if you get blood or other potentially infectious materials in your eye(s), nose, mouth, or onto your broken skin.

    Who is at risk for a BBP exposure?

    People who are most at risk for occupational exposures to BBP include:

    • Healthcare workers
    • First responders/Emergency Response Personnel
    • Housekeeping personnel
    • Maintenance and waste workers
    • Correctional healthcare workers
    • Tattooists and body piercers

    Non-occupational transmission of BBP most commonly occurs through sexual transmission or IV drug use.

    What should I do if I have a BBP exposure?

    If you have exposure to a bloodborne pathogen, the first thing you should do is clean the area. Wash any affected areas with soap and water. Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water, saline, or sterile wash. Irrigate exposed eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile wash.

    After administering first aid measures, report the exposure right away. If you have had exposure at work, always follow your employer’s policy for reporting workplace injuries and illnesses and receiving treatment. If you have exposure outside of work, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Based on your exposure and risk factors, your healthcare provider may recommend testing and/or prophylactic treatment for bloodborne pathogens, so it is important to notify them right away.

    How can I protect myself from BBP exposures at work?

    Things you can do to protect yourself from BBP exposures include:

    • Getting the hepatitis B vaccine.
    • Reading and understanding your employer’s BBP Exposure Control Plan.
    • Treating all blood and body fluid spills as if they were infectious.
    • Containing spills of infectious material immediately, then cleaning and disinfecting the area.
    • Cleaning up contaminated broken glass with tongs, forceps, or a brush and dustpan. Never use your hands, even if protected with gloves.
    • Disposing of used sharps promptly into an appropriate sharps disposal container.
    • Using sharps devices with safety features whenever possible.
    • Using personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and face shields, every time there is a potential for exposure to blood or body fluids.
    • Cleaning work surfaces with germicidal products.
    • Protect yourself by using appropriate PPE and a one-way valve, if performing CPR or rescue breathing.

    What is a bloodborne pathogen exposure control plan?

    Per Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, if there is a reasonable chance that you could be exposed to bloodborne pathogens during the performance of your work duties, your employer should have a bloodborne exposure control plan in place to minimize or eliminate your risk of BBP exposure. A bloodborne pathogen plan is a written plan that should include:

    • Implementing universal precautions (treating all human blood and other potentially infectious materials as infectious).
    • Identifying and using engineering controls such as sharps disposal containers, self-sheathing needles, sharps engineered with safety protection, and needle-less systems, when applicable.
    • Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, gowns, eye protection, and masks at no cost to the employee.
    • Using labels and signs to communicate hazards, such as warning labels on containers of regulated waste, reusable sharps, contaminated laundry, and refrigerators or freezers that store blood or other potentially infectious materials.
    • Providing bloodborne pathogen information and training to employees.
    • Making hepatitis B vaccines available to all employees who are at risk for bloodborne pathogen exposure.
    • Having a plan for post-exposure evaluation and follow-up if an employee has had an exposure.
    • Maintaining employee medical records, training records, and a sharps injury log.

    This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition or to give medical advice. Always consult your primary care provider for healthcare instructions. External links are provided as references and do not indicate an endorsement by Medcor. External links are subject to other sites’ terms of use and privacy policies.

    References

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “Bloodborne Infectious Diseases: HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C,” September 6, 2016.

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure,” June 6, 2014.

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “Emergency Sharps Information,” October 5, 2016.

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “Engineering Controls and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),” October 11, 2016.

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,” October 5, 2016.

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “Occupations Affected by Bloodborne Infectious Diseases,” September 30, 2016.

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “Preventing Needlesticks and Sharps Injuries.”

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “Protect yourself. Protect your family. Protect the public.” 

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “Universal Precautions for Preventing Transmission of Bloodborne Infections,” September 6, 2016.

    Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention.”

    Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention: General Guidance.”

    Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention: Hazard Recognition.”

    Authored by: Mayuri Bhakta

    Share
    BBP, bloodborne pathogens, CDC, CPR, HBV, HCV, hepatitis B, hepatitis B vaccine, hepatitis C, HIV, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, PPE, tattoo

    Mayuri Bhakta, FNP-BC, Director of Clinical Affairs

    More posts by Mayuri Bhakta, FNP-BC, Director of Clinical Affairs

    Related Post

    • Smart Snacking

      By Danielle Olipra

      Everybody snacks, and most people could tell you what their favorite snack is without a thought. Snacks can be good for you, but many of us are guilty of nibbling mindlessly on junk food andRead more

      Share

    • HIIT And Why It Is Popular

      By Danielle Olipra

      High-Intensity Interval Training or HIIT has become a popular workout trend—why is it so popular? Keep reading about HIIT and try a new routine to change up your workout. Convenience of HIIT HIIT training appealsRead more

      Share

    • Stretching

      By Danielle Olipra

      Physical activity can help you feel and function better and stretching your muscles can also help improve your overall health. Read about the benefits of regular stretches and commit to a routine that could improveRead more

      Share

    • Caffeine Withdrawal

      By Ilia Jbankov, FNP-BC, Medcor Provider

      Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance found in over 60 varieties of plants, the most common being coffee beans, cocoa, tea leaves and kola nuts. The medicinal and energizing effects of these plants were knownRead more

      Share

    • Seasonal Affective Disorder

      By Danielle Olipra

      Seasonal Affective Disorder plagues an estimated 10 million Americans every year. Keep reading to understand seasonal depression and utilize Medcor’s Guiding Health Principles to take care of your mental health this winter. What is SeasonalRead more

      Share

    NextPrevious

    Health Tip Updates

    Recent Posts

    • Smart Snacking
    • HIIT And Why It Is Popular
    • Stretching
    • Caffeine Withdrawal
    • Seasonal Affective Disorder
    Medcor
    Medcor provides health navigation through integrated services that include onsite and mobile clinics, injury triage, telemedicine, and safety staffing and training. Medcor helps employers and their employees navigate the complexities of healthcare to achieve better physical and financial outcomes across the United States and Canada.

    Recent Health Tips

    • Smart Snacking
      February 1, 2023
    • HIIT And Why It Is Popular
      January 25, 2023
    • Stretching
      January 18, 2023

    Insights

    • onsite-healthWhat is an Occupational Health Clinic?
      September 29, 2022
    • COVID Compliance OfficersCOVID-19 Workplace Safety
      September 14, 2022
    • Onsite HealthcareWhat is Onsite Healthcare?
      September 6, 2022

    Contact Us

    HQ Location
    4805 Prime Parkway
    McHenry, IL 60050

    Postal Address
    P.O. Box 550
    McHenry, IL 60051

    Call

    HQ: (815) 363-9500
    Sales: (888) 295-5180
    Media: (815) 759-5442

    Email

    Sales: sales@medcor.com
    Job Inquiry: recruiters@medcor.com
    Media: media@medcor.com
    Website Manager: websupport@medcor.com
    Copyright © 2023 Medcor, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Legal Notices: Copyrights, Trademarks, Patents, Terms of Use & Privacy | English Spanish. Healthcare Privacy Policy | English Spanish
    • About
      • Medcor Health Navigation
      • Leadership
      • Wellness
        • Eat Real Food
        • Get Your Sleep
        • Handle Your Hygiene
        • Mind Your Happiness
      • Mission, Vision and Values
    • Services
      • Onsite Clinic
      • Telehealth
      • Safety
      • Health Security
    • Resources
      • Health Tips
      • Insights
      • Technology
    • Contact
      • Existing Customer Services
      • General Information
      • Job Inquiries
      • Media & Public Relations
    • Careers
      • Culture
      • Equal Employment and Diversity
      • Interview and Hiring Process FAQs
      • Apply
    • COVID-19
    Medcor