# Intraduction to Medical Technology with STS OCCUPATIONAL RISKS IN THE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY PROFESSION Occupational risk is the probability of undesirable incidents connected with the Performance of work. Such incidents can cause loss, especially in reference to workers who experience negative effects on their health resulting from occupational risk’s agents present in the work environment or from the approach of carrying out one’s work. ‘Blood-Bome Diseases BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS CRIT are PPR Rena Peas isco Siemans aa Se | Soe [eee | see fe 88 ‘Bloodborne Pathogens poster. Source: internet Blood-borne diseases are diseases that can be spread by contamination by blood. ‘The most common examples are HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and viral hemorrhagic fevers. Many blood-borne diseases can also be transmitted by other means, including high risk sexual behavior. Since it is dificult to determine what pathogens any given blood contains, and some blood-borne diseases are lethal, standard medical practise regards all blood and other body fluids as potentially infective. Blood and Body Fluid precautions are a type of infection control practice that seeks to minimize this sort of disease transmission. Blood poses the greatest threat to health in a laboratory or clinical setting due to needle disposal techniques. ‘OSHA Standa The f ‘Administratic Imple mine expos be pre Use 0 involv Use « antici, Hand poten Hand Use 0 sharp imple dispo: Avoid Use © infect anda Discar suffi markt Use befor Appr blood Apia expos nose A pla empl: expo: Prohil conta blocIntroduction to Medical Technology with STS OSHA Standards for Reducing Risks of lood-borne Diseases ted with the ‘workers who gents present The following are the standards set - the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 4 in relation to professions at risk of blood-borne diseases: Implementation of a written minimize employee exposu : Exposure Control Plan (ECP), designed to eliminate or ie, and ensures that employees with occupational Exposure to bloodborne pathogens receive appropriate training, The training shall be provided to the employee free of charge and during work hours, Use of standard precautions during care of all patients/residents and all tasks that involve a reasonable likelihood for exposure to blood ot body fluids. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) whenever there is reasonable Anticipation of exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials, Hand washing after the removal of PPE; following contact with blood or other potentially infectious material; and/or prior to, or following, patient/resident care. Hand washing prior to or after patient/resident care, Use of safer needle devices and needleless devices to decrease needlestick or other sharps exposures. Implementation of engineering and work practice controls for proper handling and disposal of needles and other sharps to help prevent exposures. Avoid splashing, spraying, spattering, or creating droplets of blood or other fluids. Use of containers for transfer or disposal of anything contaminated with blood or infectious materials. The containers should display the biohazard label, be leak-proof and able to close, + Discarding blood and other potentially infectious body substances in amounts sufficient to cause infection in red bags or containers labelled Infectious Waste or marked with the Biohazard label. ion by blood. ‘+ Use of health care organization-approved disinfectant on all contaminated items tthagic fevers. before use on another patient/resident. ding high isk '* Appropriate use of PPE, a healthcare organization-approved disinfectant, and a blood spl kit for containing and cleaning spils of blood or body substances. ‘+ Aplan that ensures a Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow up is in place to address ins, and some exposure to blood or body fluids via needlestick, sharps injury, splash to mouth, nd other body ose or eyes, or to non-intact skin for all employees. cio ean * A plan that ensures Hepatitis B vaccination has been given or is offered to all xf oa “ employees arid health care workers who have the potential for occupational le dispos: exposure to blood and other potential infectious materials. + Prohibition of eating, drinking, applying cosmetics or lip balm, and/or handling contact lenses in work areas where there is a likelihood of occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materi 202Introduction to Medical Technology with STS. Needlestickinuries A pictorial representation of needlestck injury. Source: Internet. Needlestick injuries are wounds caused by needles that accidentally or unintentionally punctured the skin. Needlestick injuries are threats for people working with hypodermic syringes and other needle equipment. These injuries can occur at any time New when people use, disassemble, or dispose needles, When not properly disposed, needles {| bacteria, ¢ can become concealed in inens or garbage and can injure other workers who encounter # recommen them unexpectedly. Needlestick injuries transmit infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, | exposure. Hepatitis B and Hepattsc. | exposed to HIV/AIDS Pre: The risk of needlestick transmission of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the ina virus that causes AIDS, is considerably less than for Hepatitis B virus. Hundreds of health ious: care workers have been accidentally exposed, mostly through needlestick injuries, to blood onan from patients infected with HIV. Researchers estimate that needlestick injuries infection involving blood contaminated with HIV can spread the virus in 0.3% of cases. Stated another ciicee way, 99.7% of needlestick injuries do not lead to HIV infection. . ar Hepatitis B (HBV) iar + surv The ‘isk of transmission of HBV is reduced by immunization against Hepatitis 8, ir which is 90% to 95% effective. The risk of transmission of HBV to susceptible health care workers via a needlestick injury varies from 1% to 40%. Since Hepatitis B virus can survive tio on environmental surfaces for more than a week, indirect exposure to the virus can occur | patentise via contaminated inanimate objects and appears to have been a factor in HBV outbreaks ‘among patients and staff of hemodialysis units. are * Flus| Hepatitis C (HCV) «inp Needlestick injuries may also transmit Hepatitis C. The risk factor for Hepatitis C | / * Repc virus transmission in occupational settings is 1.8% and ranges from 0% to 7%, © imm' 203,cidentally or working with + at any time osed, needles hho encounter as HIV/AIDS, rus (HIV), the reds of health sries, to blood aries infection ‘tated another it Hepatitis B, ile health care us can survive rus can occur 4BV outbreaks ‘or Hepatitis C ‘A pe raph showing The percentage dtribution of needlestck ‘niuvies in elation to timing. Source: Internet. Needlestick injuries have transmitted many other diseases involving viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms to health care workers. HBV vaccination is recommended for all health care workers uniess they are immune because of previous exposure. HAV vaccine has proved highly effective in preventing infection in workers ‘exposed to HBV, However, no vaccine exists to prevent HCV or HIV infection Preventing needlestick injuries is the most effective way to protect health care workers from the infective diseases that needle-stick accidents transmit. A laboratory should have a comprehensive needle-stick injury prevention program and must include the following: ‘employee training. © recommended guidelines ‘© safe recapping procedures effective disposal system ‘+ surveillance programs ‘* improved equipment design I needlestick or sharps injury or exposure to the blood or other body fluid of a patient is encountered during the course of your work, immediately follow these steps: Wash needlesticks and cuts with soap and water Flush splashes to the nose; mouth, or skin with water Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irritants Report the incident to your supervisor Immediately seek medical treatment 204