May 06, 2021
How much do you know about Bloodborne pathogens? In this pandemics and infectious diseases era, you need to know what causes some of these ailments. Bloodborne pathogens are some of the leading mediums that transfer infectious diseases. It happens between family members, patients to doctors, parents to children, and much more. People greatly affected by Bloodborne pathogens include healthcare workers, public safety personnel, and the emergency response team. Any worker or healthcare employee must avoid getting into contact with raw blood and other body fluids to avoid these pathogens. This article will discuss important things you need to know concerning blood pathogens. Before going deeper, let's start with what they are.
What is a Bloodborne pathogen?
Scientifically, pathogens are microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses, which cause certain types of diseases. Some of the well-known pathogens include Hepatitis B (HBV), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis C, and many others. Some of these pathogens transmit some infectious diseases, including the deadly HIV/AIDS disease. However, some diseases are curable, and scientists are coming up with effective ways of dealing with them and their pathogens. The best way you can avoid these diseases is by staying or preventing yourself from contacting the pathogens.
How does one get infected by pathogens?
As per their name, Bloodborne pathogens are spread through the blood or other body fluids. When a healthful person comes into contact with the blood or body fluids of the patients, they get the pathogens. These disease-causing organisms can enter the body through cuts, wounds, mucous membranes, and bites.
Here are some ways you can contract Bloodborne pathogens.
• Direct Contact: This happens when the fluids of an infected individual get into a healthy person's body. Having sex is among the ways one can contact these pathogens.
• Respiratory transmission: This happens when a healthy person inhales contaminated air exhaled by an infected person. Examples of this include inhaling the air where someone infected coughs or sneezes.
• Vector-borne transmission: This infection happens when an insect carrying the pathogens or an infected tool perforates the skin of a healthy person. For instance, mosquitoes carry malaria pathogens and transmit them to healthy individuals.
• Indirect Contact: This is whereby someone contacts the pathogens through surfaces and tools used by someone infected with the pathogens.
It is crucial to undergo pathogen training to learn how these transfers occur and protect yourself against these transmission methods.
What is Bloodborne pathogen training?
Taking pathogen training helps you to deal with any infection caused by pathogens. You will be protecting yourself from infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and malaria. According to bloodbornepathogenstraining.com, training is crucial, especially for individuals who handle contaminated objects and handling many people. Some of the topics available in these training include the below.
• Personal Protection Equipment: Here, experts will guide you on wearing protective clothing to avoid pathogens. Such protective wear includes masks, aprons, gloves, and scrubs.
• Personal Hygiene: professionals will train you on observing cleanliness to keep away pathogens and protect yourself from their related diseases. You will be taught how to clean yourself and handle contaminated materials.
• Engineering controls: the training involves handling or destroying contaminated materials, including proper disposal and washing PPEs.
• Cleaning and Disinfecting Supplies: This training involves cleaning various equipment and the many supplies you can use to clean and disinfect the tools.
• Post-Exposure evaluation: the step involves the actions and emergencies you have to take when exposed to pathogens. It might also involve the things you need to have on standby if you get infected by pathogens.
Why should one need pathogen training?
Once you are in an occupation that requires handling people or deals with blood and other infectious fluids, it is essential to undergo the pathogens training. It is also one of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for all healthcare workers. Some of the infectious materials as highlighted by OSHA include.
• All human body fluids. These include blood, semen, vaginal fluids, synovial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva, pleural fluid, and other fluids found within the human body.
• Unfixed organs from dead or living human beings
• HIV-contaminated cells or tissues, blood, organs, or animals contaminated with the disease virus.
How do you prevent Bloodborne pathogens?
Besides going through the pathogen training and following all the taught measures, you have to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Avoid coming into direct contact with body fluids or handling infected equipment with bare hands. Ensure to thoroughly wash your hands when you come into contact with surfaces or equipment to avoid contracting the pathogens.
Bloodborne pathogens have made many individuals contract and suffer from several diseases, including malaria and HIV/AIDS. It is crucial to take approved precautionary measures to stay away from these pathogens and to stay healthy.