Transcript Are There Health Hazards in the Office Environment?

Bloodborne Pathogens
Sandy Bennett
Hepatitis
 Hepatitis A
 Hepatitis
B
 Hepatitis C
 Hepatitis D
 Hepatitis E
 Viruses which attacks the liver
 Liver performs many functions vital to life

Blood reservoir, blood filter, carbohydrate, fat,
protein metabolism, storage of vitamins, iron,
etc.
Hepatitis A
 Caused
by infection with Hepatitis A virus
 Virus is found in the stool of infected persons
 HAV is usually spread from person to person
by putting something in the mouth (even
though it may look clean) that has been
contaminated with the stool of a person with
hepatitis A
 Occurs in epidemics both nationwide and in
communities
Hepatitis A--Symptoms
 Jaundice
 Fatigue
 Abdominal
pain
 Loss of appetite
 Nausea
 Diarrhea
 Fever
Hepatitis A Prevention
 Good
personal hygiene and proper
sanitation can help prevent hepatitis A
 Always wash your hands with soap and
water after using the bathroom, changing a
diaper, and before preparing and eating
food
 Vaccine is available
Hepatitis B
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Caused by infection with Hepatitis B virus
Occurs when blood or body fluids from an infected
person enters the body of a person who is not
immune
 HBV is spread through having sex with an infected
person without using a condom (the efficacy of latex
condoms in preventing infection with HBV is
unknown, but their proper use may reduce
transmission), by sharing drugs, needles, or "works"
when "shooting" drugs, through needlesticks or
sharps exposures on the job, or from an infected
mother to her baby during birth
 Can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of
the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death
Hepatitis B Symptoms
 Jaundice
 Fatigue
 Abdominal
pain
 Loss of appetite
 Nausea, vomiting
 Joint pain
Hepatitis B--Prevention
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A safe and effective vaccine is available
Use latex condoms correctly and every time you
have sex. The efficacy of latex condoms in
preventing infection with HBV is unknown, but their
proper use may reduce transmission.
If you are pregnant, get a blood test for hepatitis B;
Infants born to HBV-infected mothers should be
given HBIG (hepatitis B immune globulin) and
vaccine within 12 hours after birth.
Never share drugs, needles, syringes, or "works“
Do not share personal care items that might have
blood on them (razors, toothbrushes)
Hepatitis C
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Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by the Hepatitis C
virus (HCV)
Occurs when blood or body fluids from an infected person
enters the body of a person who is not infected
HCV is spread through sharing needles or "works" when
"shooting" drugs, through needlesticks or sharps exposures on
the job, or from an infected mother to her baby during birth
Chronic infection: 55%-85% of infected persons
Chronic liver disease: 70% of chronically infected persons
Deaths from chronic liver disease: 1%-5% of infected persons
may die
Leading indication for liver transplant
Most infections are due to illegal injection drug use
Hepatitis C--Symptoms
 Jaundice
 Fatigue
 Dark
urine
 Abdominal pain
 Loss of appetite
 Nausea
 80% of infected persons have no signs or
symptoms
Hepatitis C--Prevention
 There
is no vaccine to prevent hepatitis C
 Do not shoot drugs and never share needles,
syringes, or "works"
 Do not share personal care items that might
have blood on them (razors, toothbrushes)
Hepatitis D
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Hepatitis D is a liver disease caused by the
hepatitis D virus (HDV)
 It is a defective virus that needs the hepatitis B
virus to exist
Hepatitis E
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Hepatitis E is a liver disease caused by the
hepatitis E virus (HEV)
 It is transmitted in much the same way as hepatitis
A virus
Hepatitis E, however, does not occur often in the
United States
Viral Hepatitis - Overview
Type of Hepatitis
A
Source of
virus
feces
Route of
transmission
Chronic
infection
Prevention
B
C
D
E
blood/
blood/
blood/
feces
blood-derived blood-derived blood-derived
body fluids body fluids body fluids
fecal-oral percutaneous percutaneous percutaneous fecal-oral
permucosal permucosal permucosal
no
yes
yes
yes
no
pre/postblood donor
pre/post- ensure safe
pre/postexposure
exposure
screening;
exposure
drinking
immunization immunization risk behavior immunization; water
modification risk behavior
modification
HIV
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Human immunodeficiency virus
HIV can be passed from person to person if
someone with HIV infection has sex with or shares
drug injection needles with another person
It also can be passed from a mother to her baby
when she is pregnant, when she delivers the baby,
or if she breast-feeds her baby
Leads to disease AIDS
Destroys the immune system
HIV Symptoms
 You
might have HIV and still feel perfectly
healthy
 The only way to know for sure if you are
infected or not is to be tested
HIV Prevention
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Don’t share needles and syringes used to inject drugs, steroids,
vitamins, or for tattooing or body piercing
Don’t share equipment ("works") used to prepare drugs to be
injected
The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted
diseases is to abstain from sexual intercourse, or to be in a long
term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has
been tested and you know is uninfected
Use a latex condom to reduce the risk of STD transmission.
Don’t share razors or toothbrushes because of the possibility of
contact with blood
If you are pregnant or think you might be soon, talk to a doctor
or your local health department about being tested for HIV.
Drug treatments are available to help you and reduce the
chance of passing HIV to your baby if you have it
You Do Not Get Hepatitis B, C, or
HIV
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By working with or being around someone who has
the disease
From sweat, spit, tears, clothes, drinking fountains,
phones, toilet seats, or through everyday things like
sharing a meal
From insect bites or stings
From donating blood
From a closed-mouth kiss (but there is a very small
chance of getting it from open-mouthed or "French"
kissing with an infected person because of possible
blood contact)