Bloodborne hepatitis

Common bloodborne pathogens (BBP) include Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).These viruses can be transmitted from an infected person to another through blood and other bodily fluids entering through broken skin or mucous membranes (including mouth, nose, and eyes).

• Hepatitis B pathogen is the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).
  • HBV infection can cause cirrhosis of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.
• Hepatitis C pathogen is the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).
  • HCV infection can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Transmission of HBV or HCV in the healthcare setting is rare, but outbreaks do occur in outpatient settings, hemodialysis units, long-term-care facilities, and hospitals, primarily as a result of unsafe injection practices; reuse of needles, fingerstick devices, and syringes; and other lapses in infection control. To prevent transmission of bloodborne pathogens, health-care providers should adhere to recommended standard precautions and fundamental infection-control principles, including safe injection practices and appropriate aseptic techniques (CDC 2020).

Reference

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, August 11). Health Care Providers and viral hepatitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/populations/healthcaresettings.htm.