Bloodborne Pathogen Safety

Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms carried in blood or certain other potentially infectious body fluids. The major occupational concerns are hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Transmission requires both an infectious fluid and a portal of entry. The important portals are: - a puncture or cut through the skin; - the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth; and - non-intact skin, such as eczema, a draining lesion, or an open cut. A splash onto intact skin is not equivalent to a needlestick because intact skin is an effective barrier. Wash the area, however, and report if there is any uncertainty about the integrity of the skin or the fluid involved. The risk is determined by the exposure, not by whether the patient looks ill. A deep puncture from a blood-filled hollow-bore needle deserves more urgent risk assessment than a brief contact with intact skin. A blood splash to the eye may be small but still provides direct access to a mucous membrane. HBV, HCV, and HIV are not spread by casual...