Bloodborne Pathogens

Bloodborne Pathogens

Background

A bloodborne pathogen (BBP) is a type of bacteria or virus. It is spread by contact with an infected person's blood or other infectious body fluids. Examples of diseases caused by BBP include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV).

You could be exposed to bloodborne pathogens by:

  • Receiving contaminated blood or blood products
  • Sharing needles (including needles used during tattooing or body piercings)
  • Having unprotected sexual contact

In healthcare or residential settings, you could be exposed to bloodborne pathogens by:

  • Healthcare personnel practicing unsafe injection practices
  • Having contact with contaminated equipment such as:
    • Blood glucose monitoring devices
    • Podiatry equipment
    • Any other device that has not been properly cleaned and disinfected

 

 

 

Educational Resources

VDH Infection Prevention and Control Assessments: The HAI/AR team is available to conduct a no-cost, non-regulatory, onsite visit to help a facility identify its infection prevention strengths and areas of opportunity.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Virginia Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Group 

Virginia Infection Prevention Training Center 

 

 

 

Setting-Specific Resources

CDC Interfacility Transfer Form - The patient transfer form helps make it easier to share information when patients are moved between different places for care. Hospitals and groups focused on making patient safety better can change and use this form to fit their needs.

Bloodborne pathogens resource specific to hospital settings: 

View Hospitals homepage 

Bloodborne pathogens resource specific to long-term care settings: 

Assisted Living Facilities

  • VDH OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard for Assisted Living Facilities – in-service/presentation that can be used to fulfill requirement for training on the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Facilities that implement this in-service should add how employees should seek counseling and follow-up care if an occupational exposure occurs. (This training can be customized to other care settings) (May 2014) 

View Long-Term Care Homepage

Last Updated: September 20, 2024