Information about Bloodborne Pathogens for Health Professionals

Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens from needlesticks and other sharps injuries is a serious problem, but it is often preventable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year 385,000 needlesticks and other sharps-related injuries are sustained by hospital-based health care personnel. Similar injuries occur in other health care settings, such as nursing homes, clinics, emergency care services, and private homes. Sharps injuries are primarily associated with occupational transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but they may be implicated in the transmission of more than 20 other pathogens.

On this page:
Preventing occupational exposures
Preventing patient exposures
Post-exposure prophylaxis
Guidelines
Reports

Preventing occupational exposures to bloodborne pathogens

It is the responsibility of both employers and employees to take steps to prevent the potential exposure of workers to bloodborne pathogens.

• CDC: Workbook for Designing, Implementing and Evaluating a Sharps Injury Prevention Program 
  An effective sharps injury prevention program includes several components that must work in concert to prevent health care personnel from suffering needlesticks and other sharps-related injuries. This program plan is designed to integrate into existing performance improvement, infection control, and safety programs. 
  
   
• CDC: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): All Workplace Safety & Health Topics
  Helpful information regarding the achievement of a safe and healthful work environment. 
  
   
• CDC/NIOSH: Infectious Agents Risk Factors
  Workers and employers should take advantage of available engineering controls and work practices to prevent exposure to blood and other body fluids.

Post-exposure prophylaxis for potential bloodborne pathogens exposures

Timely and appropriate management of potential bloodborne pathogen exposures is essential.