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Bloodborne Pathogen Training Benefits

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A pathogen is defined as a microorganism, such as a bacterium or a virus, that is able to cause disease. Some examples of bloodborne pathogens include Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), malaria, Hepatitis B (HBV), and Hepatitis C. As you may be aware, these are all very serious illnesses to contract, and none of them are currently 100% curable, although scientists are making great strides on effective treatments. However, the best treatment for these diseases is to protect yourself from contracting them in the first place.

Bloodborne pathogens are spread when blood or bodily fluids from an infected person enter another individual’s body through bites, mucous membranes, cuts, or puncture wounds. There are four main methods of contracting bloodborne pathogens:

Direct contact. When infected fluids from one individual enter another individual’s body.

Indirect contact. When infected fluids from one person contaminate a surface or item that another individual will have to interact with.

Respiratory droplet transmission. When an individual inhales contaminated body fluids from an infected person, for example, if an infected individual coughs or sneezes around you. Vector-borne transmission. When an individual’s skin is perforated by an infected source, such as getting a bite from a mosquito carrying malaria.

By taking Bloodborne Pathogens Certification Training, you’ll learn how to minimize the risk of infection against all of these transmission methods.

Human body fluids as follows: semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, pleural fluid, pericardial fluid, peritoneal fluid, amniotic fluid, saliva in dental procedures, any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood, and all body fluids in situations where it is difficult or impossible to differentiate between body fluids.

Any unfixed tissue or organ (other than intact skin) from a living or dead human. HIV-containing cell or tissue cultures, organ cultures, and HIV- or HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions; and blood, organs, or other tissues from experimental animals infected with HIV or HBV.

That means if you are a nurse, paramedic, doctor, dentist, or anyone else who may be in contact with contaminated bodily fluids, you will need to take bloodborne pathogen training. Even if you may not be directly in contact with infected individuals, but will be exposed to contaminated surfaces or items (needles, scalpels, drainage tubes, etc.) you will need to take the course.

By taking this training, you’ll learn how to protect yourself from contracting serious, infectious diseases. If your job requires you to handle contaminated materials and objects or work with infected people, this is the best step you can take for prevention. Topics of bloodborne pathogen training courses will include:

Engineering controls: methods that can be used to remove the risk of infections (eg. proper contaminated items disposal methods and de-contamination methods)

Personal protective equipment: protective gear to reduce the risk of infection, including gloves, masks, aprons, and scrubs.

Personal hygiene: preventing infection through personal cleanliness, including washing hands after handling contaminated materials.

Cleaning and Disinfecting supplies and equipment: ensuring the cleanliness of contaminated equipment through the use of proper physical or chemical cleaning processes.

Post-exposure evaluation and follow-up: in the case of an exposure incident, your employer will need to arrange for the appropriate confidential medical follow-up, including blood tests and counseling. When all of these steps are put in place correctly, your risk of being infected by bloodborne pathogens can almost be completely eliminated.

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