Hepatitis B Virus
(HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are the three
recognized bloodborne pathogens that are most commonly involved in occupational
transmission. Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV), discovered in 1977, is a defective virus
requiring the presence of HBV in order to replicate. An estimated 4% of acute HBV
infections are coinfections with HDV.In 1987,
twenty-three infectious diseases had been transmitted to healthcare workers by
needlesticks and sharps injuries including:
AIDS
Blastomycosis
Brucellosis
Cyptococosis
Diphtheria
Ebola Fever
Gonorrhea (cutaneous)
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Herpes
Malaria
Leptospirosis |
Mycobacteriosis
Malignancy
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Mycoplasmosis
Staphylococcus aureus
Scrub Typhus
Toxoplasmosis
Sporotrichosis
Syphilis
Streptococcus pyogenes
Tuberculosis |
Routes of Exposure
There are two classes of blood and body fluid exposures: mucocutaneous
(exposure of the eyes, nose, or mouth as a result of splashes, spray, or direct contact)
and percutaneous (needlestick and sharp object injuries to the skin). Mucocutaneous
and percutaneous exposures have different pathogen transmission rates and require
different prevention methods. Of the two, percutaneous exposures are the most common
occupational injury as well as the most common type of bloodborne pathogen exposure among
healthcare workers.
Activities and Practices Associated with
Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens
Listed below are some common causes of healthcare worker
exposure to blood or body fluids:
- recapping needles
- administering parenteral medications
- drawing blood
- collecting linens and trash
- exposure to used needles that were left lying around
- exposure to used needles that were disposed of in the trash
instead of a sharps container
- exposure to used needles while they were being brought to
an inconveniently placed sharps container
- exposure to used needles that poke out of an overfilled
sharps container
- blood contacting broken skin due to rips in gloves
- contacting broken skin due to not wearing gloves
- needlestick injury through a glove
- accidental needlestick injury during a medical procedure
Source: Collins, CH, Kennedy, DA.
Microbiological hazards of occupational needlestick and "sharps" injuries. J.
Appl. Bacteriol. 62:385-402, 1987.
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