Bloodborne pathogens may be spread from an object to a person

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Understanding Bloodborne Pathogens
Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Routes of transmission
How may bloodborne pathogens spread?
What can transmit bloodborne pathogens?
What are 3 ways bloodborne pathogens can enter the body?
What are common methods for bloodborne pathogens to be spread?

Understanding Bloodborne Pathogens

Disease-carrying blood or body fluids can enter through any body opening or break in skin. If they do, you may become infected with disease.

Blood or body fluids may have pathogens (germs) that can cause disease. If there is an accident at work involving blood or body fluids, these germs can be spread. The most common and serious bloodborne germs are the hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Once these germs infect you, you may become sick. In turn, the germs may spread to your loved ones. The 3 bloodborne germs described below are the most common causes of infections in the workplace.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)

Hepatitis B can cause severe damage to the liver. It can even lead to death.
A vaccine is available to help prevent hepatitis B infection. This vaccine is given as 3 shots over a period of time.
Adults who aren't vaccinated and are exposed at work to another person's blood or body fluids can be given medicine or a vaccine after the exposure. This helps prevent infection from developing.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

Like hepatitis B, hepatitis C can cause severe damage to the liver. It can lead to death.
There is no known vaccine for HCV.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

HIV makes it harder for the body to fight infection. HIV causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This is a serious illness that can lead to death.
There is no known vaccine for HIV.

Bloodborne diseases can infect you when:

You help an injured person without using a protective barrier between you and the infected person's blood or body fluids.
An object or surface with infected blood or body fluids on it touches your broken skin.
Contaminated body fluids on your unwashed hands come in contact with your eyes, nose, or mouth.
You are pricked or scratched by a sharp object (such as broken glass or a needle) that has infected blood or body fluids on it.

StayWell last reviewed this educational content on 5/1/2018

It is very unlikely that you will become infected through everyday social contact with another worker who has a blood-borne virus (BBV). It is not thought that BBVs can be transmitted via the respiratory route, although this possibility cannot be dismissed entirely when, under laboratory conditions, (such as high titre in vitro cultures), BBVs are present in concentrations far exceeding that found in normal body fluids. BBVs are mainly transmitted sexually or by direct exposure to infected blood or other body fluids contaminated with infected blood. In the workplace, direct exposure can happen through accidental contamination by a sharp instrument, such as a needle or broken glass. Infected blood may also spread through contamination of open wounds, skin abrasions, skin damaged due to a condition such as eczema, or through splashes to the eyes, nose or mouth.

Routes of transmission

Blood-borne viruses (BBVs) are transmitted by blood, or other body fluids containing virus. This happens when the blood or fluids enter into the body of a susceptible person. The rate of viral transmission varies depending on how the person has been exposed to the virus (the route of transmission), the type of virus, how much of the virus the carrier has in their body and the immune status of the exposed person.

The more common routes of transmission include:

sexual intercourse (common for HBV, HIV; inefficient for HCV);
sharing injecting equipment;
skin puncture by blood-contaminated sharp objects (eg needles, instruments or glass); and
childbirth (ie the mother infects the child either before or during birth, or through breast-feeding).

Less common routes of transmission are:

contamination of open wounds (eg blood injuries during sporting activities);
contamination of skin lesions (eg eczema);
splashing of the mucous membranes of the eye, nose or mouth; and
human bites when blood is drawn (this may be more of a problem in certain occupations, eg prison and police service, where front line workers may be exposed to violent behaviour).

There is also a risk of acquiring a BBV infection via blood transfusion. However, in the UK, all blood donations are screened for HBV, HCV and HIV, meaning the risk is remote.

How may bloodborne pathogens spread?

For a bloodborne pathogen to be spread, the bodily fluids of an infected person must enter into the bloodstream of another person. The most common cause of transmission in the workplace is when an infected person's blood enters another person's bloodstream through an open wound.

What can transmit bloodborne pathogens?

Bloodborne pathogens such as HBV and HIV can be transmitted through contact with infected human blood and other potentially infectious body fluids such as:.

semen..

vaginal secretions..

cerebrospinal fluid..

synovial fluid..

pleural fluid..

peritoneal fluid..

amniotic fluid..

saliva (in dental procedures), and..

What are 3 ways bloodborne pathogens can enter the body?

Bloodborne pathogens can be transmitted through: Accidental punctures and cuts with contaminated sharp materials (e.g. Needle stick). Contact between mucous membranes or broken skin and infected body fluids (e.g. Splash). Sharing of needles.

What are common methods for bloodborne pathogens to be spread?

The most common ways bloodborne pathogens spread are through sexual transmission or IV drug use. However, any contact with infected blood or body fluids carries the risk of potential infection. With the correct information, irrational fears about workplace exposure to HIV and HBV can be prevented.