BIOHAZARDBIOHAZARD

Biohazard Defined…

“Those infectious agents presenting a risk of death, injury or illness to employees.”

Two Main Infectious Agents

Viruses Smallest infectious organisms Take over cells, including reproductive mechanisms,

and multiply inside of “host” cells Few viral infections can be treated with anti-viral

drugs

Bacteria Single-celled microorganisms Produce toxins that damage cells Most bacteria can be treated with drugs

Infectious Disease Developed complacency in 2ND half of 20th century

because of successful medications & vaccinations

Est. 17 million a year pass away from diseases

Bacteria & viruses develop mechanisms to resist drugs

They survive and continue to multiply Antibiotics or antiviral medications either kill or inhibit

growth Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

recommends using antibiotics only when needed

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

CDC focuses on disease prevention and control, health promotion and education activities, & environmental health

Is the leading federal agency for health & safety, since 1946, and is an agency of the Dept. of Health & Human Services

Excellent source for information about diseases

www.cdc.gov

Main Concerns Today

TB

HIV

AIDS

Hepatitis

Tuberculosis (TB) Mycobacterium tuberculosis, slow growing

organism

Not as easy to transmit as the common cold, contracted likely from family & friends

Breathing in respirable size water droplets in the air containing the TB virus via coughing, sneezing, & talking, etc.

If droplet nuclei reach the alveoli an infection develops

History of TB

Until mid 1800’s, was thought to be hereditary

1865 Frenchman Jean-Antoine Villenin proved TB is contagious

1882 German scientist Robert Koch discovered the bacteria that causes the TB disease

Until the 1940’s & 1950’s people that could afford it were put in sanatoriums

TB History cont., In 1943 American scientist Seman Woksman

discovered Streptomycin drug to kill the TB bacteria

Between 1943 & 1952 two more drugs discovered, people were being cured

By mid 1970’s sanatoriums were closed

Since 1980’s TB is returning, building a resistance to current drugs

TB Today

In 1995, TB killed more than 3 million people worldwide

Believed to be 2 billion carriers worldwide

TB Stages 1) Latent – dormant, virus becomes active at

later stage if untreated, detected by tuberculin skin test

Treatment… Isoniazide (9 months), Rifenpin (2 months)

2) Active – contagious, shows up on chest x-ray

Treatment… isolation for 1st 2 weeks until chest x-ray is clear, medication for 9-12 months

People who have Latent TB are not infectious

TB Risks & Problems People who are at high risks of contracting TB

A.I.D.S & H.I.V. Diabetics & alcoholics People living in high population facilities Smokers (pipe, cigarettes, cigars, marajuana, etc.)

TB problems in immigration areas of U.S., people coming from former Soviet Union, etc.

Not treated Mistreated Don’t take the medications

Blood borne Pathogens

“Microorganisms such as viruses or bacteria that are carried in blood

and cause disease”

Sources of Infection Items caked with dried blood (PPE)

Sharps – needles, scalpels, broken glass, etc.

Body fluids – semen, vaginal secretions, saliva, etc.

Pathological and microbiological wastes

Others – eyes, mouth, cuts in skin, body openings

Careless behaviors

Sources of Infection cont.,

Sources of Infection cont.,

Human immunodeficiency virus (H.I.V.)

Attacks & breaks down the body’s immune system

Detected by screening test called ELISA, confirmed by Western Blot test, which is 98% accurate

Can take from 6-8 weeks to several months to develop antibodies that are detectable in tests

Can take up to 10 years for symptoms to develop, some much sooner

HIV Infection…

HIV cont.,

How spread and/or contracted

sexual intercourse, transfusions, hypodermic needles, mucous or broken skin sites

At risk employees

health care workers, public safety (police, fire personnel, etc.)

Stages of HIV Disease1) Flu-like symptoms; fever, headaches, fatigue, etc.

2) After anti-bodies develop, immune system & body tissues begin to become damaged

3) 1st usual symptoms appear; swelling of the lymph glands in the throat, armpits, or groin areas

4) Serious damage develops; yeast infections & viral infections in anus & genitals, other severe infections

5) AIDS develops

Overview History of AIDS1926 – Scientists believe HIV spread from monkeys to

humans between 1926 – 1946

1959 – The first proven AIDS death was a Congo man

1978 – Gay men in U.S., Sweden and Haiti begin showing signs of AIDS

1980 – 31 deaths in U.S. from AIDS

1982 – CDC links the disease to blood, President Reagan hasn’t recognized AIDS yet

AIDS History cont.,

1987 – Reagan acknowledges AIDS, V.P. Bush is ridiculed calling for mandatory testing (gay disease)

1988 – 107,000 diagnosed cases of AIDS in U.S., about half of those died

1993 – About 250,000 people have died from AIDS since 1980 in the U.S.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

AIDS is the last stage of the HIV disease

White blood cell count is below 200 per milliliter

Presence of a severe condition or infection develops

Basically waste away, no current cure for AIDS

Symptoms of AIDS

Thrush – white coating around mouth, tongue

Rapid weight loss

Severe diarrhea

Abnormal bruising

Discolored and/or bleeding growths

Deep, dry coughing

Fevers and night sweats

Personality changes

AIDS Statistics

36 million currently living with HIV/AIDS worldwide

22 million have passed away since the beginning

Last year (2000), 3 million people passed away

Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver disease

Types… A, B, C, D, E

A, B, & C viruses most common

Hepatitis A Virus (HAV)

Food borne

Preventable

Vaccine available, 3 series shot

HAV cont.,

HAV virus found in stool of persons infected

Usually spread by mouth

Found in poor sanitary conditions, or where personal hygiene is not good

HAV is also found in drinking water and water supplies where stool feces is mixed in

People at Risk for HAV infections Travelers

Share household with someone infected with HAV

People who eat in public

Men who have sex with other men

Children

Healthcare professions

Symptoms & Prevention for HAV

Eyes turn yellow, dark urine, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, etc.

Is most contagious in person before symptoms appear

Can get Immune Globulin vaccine

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Blood-borne, not food-borne like HAV

HBV can be a lifelong infection

Is preventable with vaccine, but it is not curable once contracted

Symptoms (6 weeks to 6 months) – fever, chills, joint & muscle pain, abdominal cramps, Jaundice, abdominal cramps

HBV Can cause cirrhosis, liver cancer, and death

Killed more than a million people in 1995

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Related to types A & B

Blood-borne

Ranks 2nd to alcoholics for liver damage, alcohol speeds up progression

New, 1992 was the main discovery period, need more time to research

No current medication, no cure, leads to early death Interfuron can help some cases

Outcomes for A, B, & C viruses

Type A – preventable, curable

Type B – preventable, incurable

Type C – no vaccine, incurable

Suggestions for Types A, B or C

Stop drinking alcoholic beverages

Avoid medications that are at risk to liver damage

Eat well, exercise, and rest

Other Infectious Diseases Whooping Cough

Develop a series of short, convulsive coughs followed by a whoop

Measles Develop small red spots, fever and flu-like symptoms

Cholera A severe, contagious infection in the small intestine

Salmonella Causes food poisoning

Global Outlook on Public Health Population increases

Increased # of environmental and political refugees

Biosphere’s life-support systems have been disrupted

Increased private cars emitting toxins

Increased worldwide travel, helps spread disease

Regulations Applies to one or more employees

Bloodborne Pathogens - 29 CFR 1910.1030 Exposure Control Plan, required by OSHA

Requires employers to identify in writing where occupational exposures to blood occurs

Recordkeeping Medical records of an employee who sustained an

occupational exposure related to Biohazards, must be kept for the term of employment plus 30 years

Hazard Communication – WAC 296-62-054

Worker Protection Wash hands thoroughly with antiseptic soap

Wear appropriate PPE Gloves, gowns, masks, mouthpieces, etc. Cover exposed cuts, abrasions, wounds, etc.

Remove PPE without touching contamination

Decontaminate work surfaces with appropriate disinfectant

Biohazard warning labels Flourescent orange or orange-red Red bags or containers appropriate substitutes

Disposal or Cleaning of Contaminated Materials

Clothing should be washed at 160 F or higher for at least 25 minutes

Store used sharps in puncture resistant, leak-proof container

Biohazard Symbols

Sources of Information Ann Riley – Director of Health Department

Randy Kaiser – Safety and Health at Hospital

Class Text

Pamphlets at Red Cross Office

Internet websites

Other books at CWU Library