Blood Borne Pathogens

Bloodborne Pathogens are pathogenic microorganisms that can eventually cause disease. They are found in human blood and other bodily fluids such as synovial fluid, semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid and any other fluid that mixes or has contact with blood. The bloodborne pathogens are pathogenic, which means they are disease causing, and they are also microorganisms, which means that they are very small so the human eye cannot see them.

During this last visit, Dr. M made some mistakes which may have played a crucial role in Jacob acquiring an infection, or, in the least, contributed to negligence. After removing Jacob’s cast, Dr. M did not complete his examination of Jacob’s leg before he left the room to exam another patient, Sarah, in the room across the hall. Upon entering the room, he did not close the door. The most obvious mistake the doctor did was not washing his hands after his examination of Sarah, who has osteomyelitis, after which he returned to the first exam room to continue his examination of Jacob’s leg. Hand washing plays a major role in preventing cross-contamination when caring for patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2014), washing hands is an extremely important way to prevent the spread of infection from patient to patient or patient to health care professional. It is essential that all health care providers practice hand hygiene even if gloves are worn. There

A campaign called, “Clean Hands Save Lives” endorsed by the CDC in the year 2015 put an emphasis on five simple steps to avoid or reduce illnesses. The steps are the following and to be carried out in that order: wet, lather, scrub, rinse, and dry (Potter, Perry, Stockert, & Hall, pg. 458). In addition to performing hand hygiene, gloves must also be used when handling any type of specimen. The use of PPE or Personal protective equipment is important as it protects the wearer from any type of injury or infection. (PPE) Healthcare facilities disclose the type of contact precaution outside a patient’s door. For example, a label for Airborne Precautions indicate that a respiratory protection device (N95 respirator) must be worn in order to enter the room and while interacting with the patient. A room with Droplet Precautions requires the use of a mask or respirator. On the other hand, a room with Contact Precautions indicates the use of gloves and gowns, and a room with category Protective Environment requires protection with HEPA filtration, mask, gloves, and gowns (Potter et al., pg 459).

It is clear that double-gloving provides certain benefits in terms of protection from healthcare workers’ hands and potential pathogens, but what is not clear is whether protecting one’s hands is enough to have a meaningful impact on reducing the spread nosocomial diseases. In a study that showed significantly decreased presence of virus on the hands of healthcare workers who were double-gloved vs. single-gloved, the presence of virus on the clothes worn under

Among reviewing CNAs at a long-term care facility, it was seen that some CNA’s did not take off their gloves between giving perineal care of a patient after the patient used the bathroom and the CNA reached for the patient’s attire to put on the patient for that day. The CNA put every patient at risk of contracting the infection and the patients clothes could have became a source of C-diff. There are many cases similar to the one above where health workers are in a rush and do not perform their job/skills that they have been taught correctly. Health workers being in a rush also is due to shortage of staff. The CNAs at the long term facility discussed in this paragraph work a 9:1 ratio, which causes challenges for the health workers to give quality care to the patients.

In addition to the Bloodborne Pathogen Rule, many individual states have developed the EmployeesRight-To-Know laws that support and expand on OSHA regulations to a work place where exposure to infectious agents is possible. “Embalmers must be aware of the duties and responsibilities that are imposed on them by the laws and rules of various jurisdictions within which they practice” (Mayer, pg. 53). Embalmers should treat all cases as if the decedent contracted an infectious disease. In the Bloodborne Pathogen Rule, it mentions that we must comply with work practice controls, which is common sense steps in order to avoid unnecessary exposure to infectious agents. “Common work practices that contribute to a hygienic environment

The nurse may use sterile gloves if re-palpating is necessary or the nurse will have to re-sterilize the area and let it dry if it is contaminated.

Each year, 385,000 needlestick injuries and other sharps related injuries are sustained by hospital based healthcare professionals; which equates to an average of almost 1,000 sharps injuries per day in the U.S. Accidental needlestick and sharps not only cause injuries, but they also carry a major risk for transmission of blood borne infections. Although virtually all healthcare workers are at risk of harm from occupational exposures such as these, the Center for Disease Control notes that nurses sustain approximately half of all needlestick injuries. While there are several precautions and regulations implemented on the administration and disposal of sharps, many

Seung, you are right. Some of the doctors assess patient and toughed them without even wearing gloves, or using hand sanitizer. I have seen a doctor toughing patient’s dialysis access site that was infected without gloves and after he finished assessing the patient, he just use hand sanitizer and continue with other patient. Another doctor was checking patient PT/INR with strip and used bare hand to wipe the initial drop of blood with gauze until it gets soaked and she used another. Do you want to tell me that those doctors do not know infection control protocol. When we talks about infection control protocol, nurses need to advocate and educate people on it including the patient, the family’s member and other healthcare personnel. Everybody

The regulations or statutes that impact health care is The Occupational Exposure to Blood borne Pathogens Standard. From experience working in the health care Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) play a big part in infections control; I was taught to treat any wet or any that you are not sure of as infection. I have to take precautions with any body fluids and take it as infectious disease. The employers are the one who are responsible for providing the entire employee and the facility with a safe and healthy environment. That where Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) come in play the employer enforces standards by providing training, education and also assistance on how to comply with the Occupational Safety

If I am seeing a patient with low platelet counts, I have to wear a gown, gloves, mask and shoe protectors. This is to protect the patient from any germs that could travel into the room on my clothing, hands, or shoes, as well as any germs I could expose the patient to by breathing on them. Low platelet counts means that the patient has a compromised immune system. In the early days of my massage career, I used to hate wearing gloves. Now I understand that it still feels good, and I'm glad that a pair of gloves on my hands means that I can offer touch to someone who wouldn't otherwise be able to receive it.

According to our training database your due date has passed or is approaching. This is a required annual refresher training for Bloodborne Pathogen, based on EHLS records your last training was August 29,2014. So, your other classmates, may have recently taken this training or will receive an email from me very soon.

Relating back to my previous work I noted that it was essential that nurses wore aprons during patient care, ensuring that they discarded of them after patient contact. Not only does wearing an apron act as a barrier it is also recognised as a type of PPC (Personal protective clothing). Cadlin J, Stark S (2005) suggests that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (1991, 1992) says “Health and Safety Regulations require that all healthcare employees are provided with personal protective clothing”. However McCullough (1998) suggests that nurses’ uniforms are not considered protective clothing and that protection within the NHS is provided by the use of disposable aprons. Surprisingly some healthcare workers and qualified nurses were not discarding aprons after patient contact, not only is this bad practice but it increases the risk of cross infection between patients. Babb et al (1983) within Candlin J, Stark S (2005) article found that “although micro-organisms can survive for varying lengths of time and adhere to plastic aprons, they do not multiply and are difficult to redistribute”.

A bloodborne pathogen is an infection within the human blood that is caused by bacteria leading to harmful diseases and viruses. Bloodborne pathogens are spread through direct or indirect contact, and respiratory or vector borne transmission.

If you are a health worker, always wear protective gloves in situations that involve exposure to blood or other body fluids.