prevent disease – promote wellness – improve quality of life universal/standard precautions...

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UNIVERSAL/STANDARD PRECAUTIONS

BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS

Michigan Department of Community Michigan Department of Community HealthHealth

Bureau of LaboratoriesBureau of Laboratories

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What is Universal Precautions?

• OSHA’s required method of control to protect employees from exposure to all human blood and other potentially infectious materials.

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Observing “Universal Precautions” means you consider all human blood and certain human fluids infectious for all bloodborne pathogens.

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Universal Precautions (continued)

• Perform all tasks using safe work practices• Use appropriate personal protective

equipment.• Use engineering controls

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Most Common Route of Exposure

• Sharps– Lancets– Broken Glass– Needles

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The bloodborne pathogens that pose the most serious health risks

• Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

• Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

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Bloodborne Pathogens (continued)

• Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all health care workers

• No FDA approved vaccine exists to prevent HCV or HIV infection

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Who is at risk for sharps injury?

• Workers performing fingersticks• Lab workers• Housekeepers/janitorial staff• Medical waste contractor

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Work practices that increase the risk of a sharps injury

• Recapping needles• Transferring a body fluid between containers• Opening blood tubes• Failing to dispose of used sharps properly in

a puncture-proof sharps container

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How can you I protect myself from occupational exposure to blood and

sharps injuries?

• Assume all blood and body fluids to be infectious • Always use safe work practices, required PPE, and

safety devices• Do not eat, drink or apply cosmetics in the work area• Avoid the use of needles and lancets if safe and

effective alternatives are available

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Protect Yourself (continued)

• Help your employer select and evaluate devices with safety features that reduce the risk of sharps injuries

• Use devices with safety features provided by your employer

• Plan for safe handling and disposal of any sharps and other infectious waste before using them

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Protect Yourself (continued)

• Promptly dispose of used sharps in appropriate sharps disposal containers

• Report all occupational exposures promptly to ensure that you receive appropriate follow-up care

• Tell your employer about real or potential hazards you observe • Participate in training related to infection prevention• Get a Hepatitis B vaccination

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Safe Work Habits for HIV Testing Providers

• Use disposal gloves and change gloves after contact with each client

• Wash hands and other skin surfaces immediately and thoroughly if contaminated with blood

• Place contaminated sharps after use in a sharps container

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Safe Work Habits (continued)

• Place all contaminated waste in an appropriately labeled container and transport in a leak proof, puncture-proof outer container

• Disinfect all work surfaces and items before and after testing with 10% bleach solution or EPA approved disinfect

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Handling Occupational Exposures

• Employee should immediately report the expose to a supervisor

• Immediately wash skin with soap and water• Apply first aid to the wound

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Occupational Exposure (continued)

• Use Occupational Health Service for immediate treatment and counseling (Employee may decline treatment but must sign a wavier)

• Collect a baseline serum• Source blood tested for HIV/HBV/HCV

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Occupational Exposure (continued)

• Written Investigation of exposure

• Record on sharps injury log and MIOSHA form 300

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Record Keeping Requirements

• Written Exposure Control Plan for Bloodborne Pathogens

• Review Safe Needle Devices Annually• Sharps injury Log• MIOSHA Form 300• MIOSHA Form 300A

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References

• Bloodborne infectious Diseases, MIOSHA, Part 553, R 325.70001-R 325.70018 www.michigan.gov/mioshastandards

• www.michigan.gov/mdchlab• Clinical Laboratory Safety; Approved Guidelines –

Second Edition, CLSI, GP17-A2