Managing and Controlling the Risks Associated With the Transmissions of Blood Borne Viruses in the Health Care Setting

Initially, the treatment for hepatitis C is a combination of two drug categories which are interferon and ribavirin (IDSA, 2016). Interferon works by stimulating the immune system to attack the hepatitis C virus cells (IDSA, 2016). Pegylated interferon works more efficient than standard interferon. Pegylated interferon is a long-acting type of interferon that is administered as an injection with

When a doctor uses the term Hepatitis C or HCV, what comes to mind? Many people have little to no knowledge of what it is. Is it deadly? Is there a cure? Is it a virus or disease? There are many questions that enter the mind because there are many concerns associated with an unknown illness. Several people wonder if the virus is similar to hepatitis A or B because there has been education throughout the years that provides more awareness surrounding the two known viruses, but it is discovered there are vast differences. Until recently, the general population was unaware that another hepatitis virus acted as a silent killer. Unlike hepatitis A or B, hepatitis C is a relatively new disease that can go unnoticed until it is too late. The virus

Every day while caring for patients, health care workers risk exposure to infectious diseases, especially bloodborne viruses due to accidental punctures with needlesticks and sharps. Preventable injuries caused by percutaneous puncture wounds with sharp objects contaminated with bloodborne pathogens are all too common in the hospital environment. Many healthcare workers simply accept these risks as part of their job (Wilburn, S., 2004). Needlestick and sharp injuries (NSIs) present major potential problems for hospital workers who come into regular contact with needles, workers such as nursing staff, lab workers, physicians, and housekeepers who work where sharps are typically present. Misapplication of needles, scalpels, lancets, broken glass, or other medical instruments only heighten this risk. Exposed individuals are at serious risk of contracting infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which are transmitted through blood pathogens from contaminated needles or sharp devices (Cho, E. & others, 2013).

The major risk factors for HAV infections are contaminated food and water, poor hygiene and sanitation, person-to-person contact (house-hold and sexual contact), and travelling to endemic countries. Blood exposure in HAV infections are rare. Persons at increased risk of infection are susceptible peopling living in and travelling to endemic areas, injection drug users, and people with chronic liver disease (Heymann,2015).

It is also one of the leading known causes of liver disease. Approximately, 180 million people are infected worldwide with HCV, in the United States. The infection prevalence is estimated to be around 4 million people, with an estimated of 17000 new infections in 2010 in United States.(7) Infection with HCV is a common cause of both acute and chronic liver disease. It is frequently a silent disease with few clinical manifestations and it also known as “silent killer”. However, chronic hepatitis C is a common cause of cirrhosis, end stage liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In the United States, it is the single major cause of chronic liver disease hence the principal reason for liver transplantation in

In recent years, there has been a progressive improvement in the sensitivity and specificity of both immunological and molecular assays used for the diagnosis of hepatitis C. Furthermore, advances in molecular technologies allowed the development of new tests that facilitate early diagnosis of people at increased risk and screening of blood donors. Thus, treatment can be instituted earlier, minimising the potential of infection dissemination and reducing costs to the health system. Hence, high

HIV antibodies can be detected during the acute phase of the infection, generally between 1 and 3 months, however, over time the immune response to the infection will prove ineffective, as seen by figure 3, where the virus-specific antibodies have little to no effect on virus infected cells, and are only effective on the virus particle itself. It can take up to 6 months for the host to be able to produce significant antibody amounts, and over time, the immune response is weakened by the destruction of memory T cells, namely, CD4 and CCR5 cells. (The Biology Project, 2000) The antibody, IgG1 is a key component in the humoral immune response; it defends the immune system during all stages of the HIV infection. This particular

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major issue in today’s society. This flavivirus infection was discovered in 1989, before which it was called a non-A, non-B hepatitis. The world health organization (WHO) estimates that 3% of the world’s population has already been infected with HCV and there are almost 170 million carriers who are at risk of developing HCV.

Between 8,000 to 10,000 people a year die from the effects of this disease and the only way to know if a person has it or not is by blood tests and a liver biopsy(Berkman, 2000). All Hepatitis C viruses (HCV) are made up of an outer coat and contain enzymes and proteins that allow the virus to reproduce within the cells of the body, particularly within the liver. With the presence of the virus in the liver the body triggers the immune system which inflames the liver as a way to protect itself against the virus. Most people do not experience any symptoms until the Hepatitis C virus causes liver damage which can take ten or more years to happen. Like HBV, the Hepatitis C virus has the same symptoms and there is also an acute and a chronic type. If the body is capable of fighting and defeating the virus then it is acute HCV, but if the body is not able to fight the virus then it is leading to chronic Hepatitis C. Of every 100 people infected with Hep. C about 75-85 people will develop chronic Hepatitis C virus infection which then leads to liver disease, failure and even cirrhosis (a chronic disease of the liver marked by degeneration of cells, inflammation, and fibrous thickening of tissue.) 3.2 million people in the U.S have Hepatitis C infection and without treatment, chronic Hep C can cause liver cancer or severe liver damage that leads to liver

Hepatitis is a systemic disease primarily involving the liver, the term is used to construe inflammation of the liver. One of the main forms of Hepatitis is Hepatitis C; an RNA virus and uses liver cells to create copies of itself, killing those cells in the process. Prior to the identification of the infection in 1989 it was labelled “non-A, non-B” hepatitis (1). HCV blood-borne virus that predominantly infects the cells of the liver and advances to liver inflammation. It ultimately results in cirrhosis and primary liver cell cancer (2). It affects an estimated 130-150 million people globally with around 350,000 to 500,000 people dying each year from hepatitis C-related liver diseases. (3)

There are so many ways to be infected by disease or a virus. It’s very dangerous to be affected by a virus because it can mean death to a human being if not treated right away. One of the deadliest types of viruses are Blood borne pathogens. Blood borne pathogens are normally transmitted to a human by a bodily fluid from a contaminated person. They can enter your body through open cuts, mucus membranes, skin abrasions or even sharing needles. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are the most common types of blood borne pathogens. These 3 types are very deadly to humans. These pathogens have been affecting humans for a very long time. The first known case for HIV was in 1959, at the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Later on in the year 1981 was the first reported case of HIV in the United States of America. Hepatitis B was officially recognized in the year 1967. People with Hepatitis B can develop Liver cancer. Historians believe that the first cases of Hepatitis C, was around the 8th century A.D. Cases were also reported during the civil war and referred to as Campaign Jaundice. Even in World War 2 soldiers were hospitalized for Hepatitis C. Some of these blood borne pathogens were discovered very recently. During the times they were discovered they destroyed many lives.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a fairly common diagnosis with an estimated 1.1 million people in the United stated who carry the infection and is predominantly seen in homosexual Caucasian and black males.1 Prognosis for individuals with HIV is vastly different and is dependent on many different variables. The Center for Disease and Control (CDC) has classified the HIV virus into 3 stages based on the symptoms and the pathological progression of the virus. The first stage of the virus lasts usually one to four weeks, which presents with similar symptoms of mononucleosis (2 p 367). Stage two of the virus roughly lasts about ten years, at which point the CD4+ t cell levels drop to around 1000 cells/microliter (2 p367). During the final stage, stage 3 occurs when the CD4+ T cells levels drop to 200 cells/microliter, and the person is now infected with AIDS and the progression of the infection may be very rapid (2 p367). Ultimately, the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is a complex immune virus that is capable of destroying ones immune system, leaving their body defenseless.

The human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus (retrovirus), which attacks Helper T cells, specifically CD4 lymphocytes causing the progressive deterioration of the immune system.4 Initially when HIV is contracted, there is a period if 2 to 6 weeks called ‘seroconversion’ where HIV antibodies are not detectable. During this period the patient may experience flu-like symptoms due to the initial immune reaction.4 Next, there is a clinical, asymptomatic phase, which can last up to 10 years, and during this time the CD4 count decreases, causing gradual immunodeficiency. This lead to opportunistic infections such as oral candidiasis (thrush).4 Eventually, the AIDS stage of the disease is reached and there are more serious opportunistic infections and malignancies.

Not all patients with HIV will have signs or symptoms during the acute infection phase. If a patient is having symptoms they can often times think that they have the flu. Acute HIV infection symptoms can show up 2-4 weeks after exposure and last from a few days to several weeks (Cherney, 2014). If they are exhibiting symptoms they may present as having a fever, swollen lymph nodes, skin rashes, myalgia, diarrhea, oral ulcers or thrush, and fatigue. Lab results may also show leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or an elevation in transaminase (DHHS, 2015). Differential diagnoses include the flu or Epstein- Barr Virus since these also present with similar symptoms.

AIDS is one of the most commonly known sexually transmitted diseases. The last stages of HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, are what we know as AIDS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV is similar to other viruses like the flu or common cold except the human immune system cannot destroy the virus. The virus can hide in the cells of the body for long periods of time and attacks important parts of the immune system like T-cells or CD4 cells. Once HIV destroys a lot of CD4 cells the human body can no longer fight against infections and diseases. AIDS is diagnosed when the body cannot fight against disease and the patient has one or more specific opportunistic infections (OIs), different types of