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© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0908
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Bloodborne Pathogens—
The Case of the Potential Needlestick
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0908
Bloodborne Pathogens
Disease causing
microorganisms
present in human blood
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0908
Take a Look at the Facts
Licensed practical nurse
(LPN) working in a hospital
Contracts infectious hepatitis
No specific needlestick
is documented
She cares for patients
later diagnosed with hepatitis
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Take a Look at the Facts (cont.)
 Employee tests positive for non-A and
non-B hepatitis
 She develops cirrhosis, then liver failure
 She dies four years after positive hepatitis test
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What Do You Think Went Wrong?
How do you think she became infected?
Why was no exposure incident report filed?
Do you think this worker assumed all her
patients carried bloodborne pathogens?
What can healthcare professionals do to
prevent needlestick injuries?
Do you think the hospital had an Exposure
Control Plan?
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0908
Let’s Review the Causes
Possible needlestick incident
Safe needlestick practices may not have
been followed
If there was an incident, it was not reported
Hospital Exposure Control Plan not followed
PPE possibly not worn
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0908
Transmission of BBPs
Contact with potentially infectious body fluids
Mucous membranes:
eyes, nose, mouth
Nonintact skin
Contaminated
needles or sharps
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0908
Keys to Controlling Exposure
 Treat all blood and body fluids as if contaminated
 Wear protective clothing
 Clean contaminated
equipment and work surfaces
 Dispose of medical
waste properly
 Report potential
exposure incidents
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0908
Don’t Let It Happen to You
Use universal precautions
Understand potential exposure in the workplace
Protect your skin and mucous membranes
Dispose of sharps and other medical waste
Disinfect tools and work surfaces
Immediately wash if exposed
Report exposure
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0908
Quiz
1. Describe the main concept of “Universal
Precautions.”
2. What solution can you make to disinfect equipment
and work surfaces?
3. Name one way you might be exposed to human
blood in your workplace.
4. What does the term “bloodborne pathogens” mean?
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0908
Quiz (cont.)
5. Name two symptoms of hepatitis B.
6. How are bloodborne pathogens transmitted?
7. How should you protect yourself when doing
first aid on a bleeding victim?
8. Why should you report potential exposure incidents?
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0908
Quiz Answers
1. Q. Describe the main concept of “Universal
Precautions.”
A. Treat all blood and body fluids as if
contaminated with bloodborne pathogens.
2. Q. What solution can you make to disinfect
equipment and work surfaces?
A. Bleach and water.
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0908
Quiz Answers (cont.)
3. Q. Name one way you might be exposed to human
blood in your workplace.
A. Responding to an injury, cleaning up
contaminated equipment, handling needles, etc.
4. Q. What does the term “bloodborne pathogens”
mean?
A. Disease-causing microorganisms found in
human blood.
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0908
Quiz Answers (cont.)
5. Q. Name two symptoms of hepatitis B.
A. Jaundice, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, liver disease.
6. Q. How are bloodborne pathogens transmitted?
A. Mucous membranes, broken skin, injection.
7. Q. How should you protect yourself when doing
first aid on a bleeding victim?
A. Wear gloves and eye protection.
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0908
Quiz Answers (cont.)
8. Q. Why should you report potential exposure
incidents?
A. Medical evaluation and treatment.
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 0908