Moreover, the people at that site may not be knowledgeable in proper medical procedures. While both are critical, improper disposal can expose people to a bloodborne pathogen at a site where such risks are not known. In some respects, proper disposal is even more important than proper cleanup. One must also dispose of bloodborne pathogens in the proper way. It is not enough to clean up bloodborne pathogens. While equipment can almost never reduce one’s exposure risk to zero, it can reduce it to acceptable levels. This is why those at sites requiring significant cleaning often must wear extensive personal protection equipment (PPE). Note that the more thorough a cleanup required, the greater the risk exposure risk to cleaners. Then, a patient should know what to do if they start bleeding or must otherwise deal with their own fluids. Regardless of the cleanup, staff should also talk with the patient/s. The basics of infection risk should be reviewed. Some cleanups will require specialized cleaning services aimed at dealing with significant biohazards. The goal is to kill any pathogens that may cling to surfaces in the area.įor significant amounts of fluids, such as during some accident or crime scenes, cleaning up may be beyond the average medical professional. Then, apply an EPA-registered disinfectant to a microfiber cloth.Ĭleanup needs to be thorough, especially on dirtied equipment that cannot be disposed of (i.e. Remove all waste and fluid from the site and dispose of it properly. Moderate amounts of fluid, such as post-surgery or if a patient vomits, require more care. The site of injection requires disinfection and bandaging. After that, anything exposed to the patient’s fluids, such as sharps, disposed of. The proper approach will depend on the amount of bodily fluid that needs cleaning up.įor a small amount of blood or other fluid, cleanup is relatively simple. Once one is well-equipped, they can begin cleaning and disposing of bloodborne pathogen risks. While available equipment and time can be limiting factors in one’s protection, a pair of gloves and a medical-grade mask are all but essential when dealing with potential bloodborne pathogens. The more thorough one’s protection, the more difficult it will be for pathogens to find an entry point. At a minimum, employees must wear disposable gloves, gowns, and face shields/masks in situations where a risk of exposure to potentially infectious fluids is possible. Medical professionals should equip themselves so that their skin, eyes, and mouth do not risk exposure. What are bloodborne pathogens but one of many vectors for disease? Any exposure is a risk gambling on potentially infectious bodily fluids is irresponsible and dangerous. This true both when treating patients and when trying to dispose of and otherwise clean medical waste. The default assumption should be bodily fluids are an infection risk and thus one must wear proper safety gear for the approach. In many situations, we now know them to be critical to caregiver safety.īlood and other bodily fluids require caution from medical professionals (and in general). Before the infection of nurse Barbara Fassbinder while she helped treat an HIV patient, wearing gloves was not the standard practice in medical care. It was not until around 1986 that the medical community understood bloodborne pathogens could spread via broken skin. Equipping Oneself Against Bloodborne Pathogens That said, cuts, even small ones, can still lead to exposure. Bloodborne pathogens can’t travel via skin-to-skin contact. Tissue and organs are also infection risks.Īn exception is unbroken skin. As a rule, medical professionals should treat all bodily fluids as potentially infectious. This is mostly a concern of medical professionals who work with animals, such as veterinarians, but is still worth noting.īlood, semen, vaginal secretions, saliva, and more can all potentially carry bloodborne pathogens. They spread via the bodily fluids of an infected person, getting into the bloodstream of another person.Īnimals can also spread certain bloodborne pathogens to humans. Bloodborne pathogens are infectious microorganisms that spread via blood. The first step in combatting any type of pathogen is understanding it. We will then discuss training to further prepare professionals for such incidents. Today, we have put together a guide to help medical professionals understand the basics of pathogen disposal and cleanup. Our understanding of how pathogens spread has evolved a great deal over the decades. Without bloodborne pathogens training, they may be unprepared to confront the real threat of bloodborne disease. Combatting bloodborne pathogens is a task anyone in a medical profession needs to understand and contend with it via Bloodborne Pathogens Training.
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