Managing and Controlling the Risks Associated With the Transmissions of Blood Borne Viruses in the Health Care Setting

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Introduction

‘Control of Hospital Infection’ 4th ed. defines bloodborne virus infection as:

‘Where the blood contains infectious agents that can be transferred into the body of another person giving rise to infection’ (1).

Bloodborne viruses can pose an important risk to healthcare workers. The biggest risks lies with contracting HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C (2). These particular infections have the ability to cause asymptomatic and symptomatic infections.

The biggest risk in the hospital is the exposure to blood borne viruses. In the UK alone, there are approximately over 50,000 incidents per year(3)

Different examples of blood borne viruses will be discussed, including their epidemiology, transmission, and infection prevention and control measures. The guidelines used in a clinical setting in relation to blood borne viruses will also be outlined.

Guidelines used in the Irish clinical setting:

 EMI Toolkit - Guidelines for the Emergency Management of Injuries (including needlestick and sharps injuries, sexual exposure and human bites) where there is a risk of transmission of bloodborne viruses and other infectious diseases (2012) (Available in HPSC website, http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/EMIToolkit/EMIToolkit.pdf Date Accessed: 26/02/2014).

 Bloodborne viruses in haemodialysis, CAPD and renal transplantation setting, 2013 (Available in HPSC website http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Hepatitis/BloodborneVirus/File,4374,en.pdf Date Accessed: 28/02/2014).

Background

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)

Referred to as the Dane particle, the Hepatitis B virus is a double stranded Hepadnavirus (1). Particle diameter up to 45nm (4).It has an incubation of about 40 to 160 days(2) and can be detected in the blood, semen and vaginal secr...

... middle of paper ...

... Waste. HSE, Ireland.

23. Deuffic-Burban S, Delarocque-Astagneau E, Abiteboul D, Bouvet E, Yazdanpanah Y. 2011. Blood-borne viruses in health care workers: Prevention and management. Journal of Clinical Virology 52:4-10.

24. HPSC. 2012. http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/EMIToolkit/EMIToolkit.pdf Date Accessed: 26/02/2014.

25. HPSC. 2013. http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Hepatitis/BloodborneVirus/File,4374,en.pdf Date Accessed: 28/02/2014.

26. HPSC. 2012. http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Hepatitis/HepatitisB/HepatitisBreports/HepatitisAnnualReports/File,14469,en.pdf Date Accessed 26/02/2014.

27. HPSC. 2012. http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Hepatitis/HepatitisC/HepatitisCreports/HepatitisAnnualReports/File,14470,en.pdf Date Accessed: 26/02/2014.

28. HPSC. 2012. http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/HIVSTIs/HIVandAIDS/SurveillanceReports/File,14127,en.pdf Date Accessed: 26/02/2014.

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