Infection control and prevention
Infection control principles and practices for local public health
agencies
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Bloodborne pathogens and exposure control
Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms that cause disease and are
present in human blood. They include but are not limited to human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C
virus (HCV).
OSHA issued the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard 29 CFR Part
1910.1030 (exit DHS) to protect health care workers and others who come in contact
with blood and other potentially infectious material (OPIM) during their
occupational duties. The purpose of the standard is to prevent
occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens and to reduce the chances
of infection when exposure does occur.
This standard requires employers to write and implement an exposure
control plan for employees with occupational exposure to blood and OPIM,
using administrative, engineering, and work practice controls to prevent
or minimize employee exposure.
The exposure control plan must contain at least the following
elements:
- Cleaning/disinfection of contaminated equipment and surfaces
- Exposure determination - a list of all job classifications in
which all employees in those classifications have occupational
exposure (example: all employees classified as phlebotomists), or a
list of job classifications in which some employees have
occupational exposure, or a list of all tasks and procedures in
which occupational exposure occurs (example: administering
immunizations, doing finger sticks). Most local public health
agencies will probably not have entire job classifications in which
all persons have occupational exposure, but may have certain
personnel with assigned duties that involve occupational
exposure.
- Handling laundry
- Hazard communication
- Hepatitis B vaccination
- Maintenance of sharps injury log
- Post exposure follow-up
- Provision for hand hygiene practices
- Safe management and disposal of sharps
- Standard precautions - set of practices used with ALL clients to
prevent contact with blood and OPIM
- Use of personal protective equipment
- Use of sharps with safety devices Needlestick Safety and
Prevention Act (exit DHS)
Waste management
- Work practices that reduce or eliminate exposure to blood and OPIM
(example: no eating, drinking in potentially contaminated areas,
using leak-proof containers for specimen storage)
Additional resources
Contacts
Gwen Borlaug, Infection Control Epidemiologist
Wisconsin Division of Public Health
Bureau of Communicable Diseases and Emergency Response
(Phone 608-267-7711) (Fax 608-261-4976)
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Last Revised:
January 16, 2013 |
