What is the term that states all fluids should be treated as though they were infectious?

Environmental Health & Safety

In Compliance with 29 CFR 1910.1030 OSHA Standard for Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens

Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan

Printable files are available in two parts with Adobe Acrobat Reader:

• PDF Version of Exposure Control Plan for Bloodborne Pathogens
• PDF Version of Appendices

1. Methods of Compliance

Methods of Compliance refer to the techniques and procedures to be followed in order to minimize the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens in the workplace. The four basic components to this approach include:

• Universal Precautions
• Engineering and Work Practice Controls
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Housekeeping Practices

The methods outlined in this Plan are written generically so they are applicable to most job classifications with potential exposure to blood or body fluids. For more specific procedures consult your supervisor. Additional requirements for HIV/HBV research laboratories can be found in Appendix 7.

1. Universal Precautions
1. An approach to infection control that assumes that the blood, body fluids, and tissues of ALL persons are potentially infectious with bloodborne pathogens. These pathogens include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and other agents.
2. Infection may occur via three types of occupational exposure to blood or other infectious body fluids:
1. Parenteral exposure (needlestick, injection, cut)
2. Mucous membrane exposure (eye, mouth)
3. Non-intact skin exposure (wounds, dermatitis)
3. Precautions designed to prevent exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials will apply without regard to the particular person who is the source of the blood, body fluid, etc. The precautions to be taken are applied universally to all patients and all laboratory specimens containing blood/body fluids, hence the term Universal Precautions.
4. Definition of Potentially Infectious Materials (for bloodborne pathogens):
1. Human blood and blood products
2. Human semen and vaginal secretions
3. Human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), synovial fluid, peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, amniotic fluid
4. Human saliva in dental procedures (assume blood contamination)
5. Any body fluid visibly contaminated with blood
6. Any unfixed human tissue or organ
7. Human cells and cell lines
8. HIV-containing cell, tissue, or organ cultures and HIV- or HBV-containing culture medium or other solutions; and blood, orgaans or other tissues from experimental animals infected with HIB or hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Notice that other body excretions such as saliva, breast milk, urine, stool, vomitus and respiratory secretions are not included on this list (unless visibly contaminated with blood). However, many of these excretions present other infectious hazards. AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, at the University of Rochester, UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS APPLY TO ALL BLOOD, BODY FLUIDS, TISSUES, AND SECRETIONS.

Continue to Section IV, Part B - Engineering and Work Practice Controls

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This page last updated 8/21/2019. Disclaimer

Overview

What are blood and body fluid precautions?

Blood and body fluid precautions are recommendations designed to prevent the transmission of HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and other diseases while giving first aid or other health care that includes contact with body fluids or blood. These precautions treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious for diseases that are transmitted in the blood. The organisms spreading these diseases are called blood-borne pathogens.

Blood and body fluid precautions apply to blood and other body fluids that contain visible traces of blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. They also apply to tissues and other body fluids, such as from around the brain or spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid), around a joint space (synovial fluid), in the lungs (pleural fluid), in the lining of the belly and pelvis (peritoneal fluid), around the heart (pericardial fluid), and amniotic fluid that surrounds a fetus.

Why are blood and body fluid precautions important?

Although skin provides some protection from exposure to potentially infectious substances, it is strongly recommended that health professionals use blood and body fluid precautions for further protection when they are providing health care. These precautions also help protect you from exposure to a potential infection from your health professional in the unlikely event that you come in contact with the health professional's blood.

It is recommended that everyone use blood and body fluid precautions when giving first aid.

Are blood and body fluid precautions always needed?

The best practice is to always use blood and body fluid precautions, even when you can't see any blood and there's no chance that blood is present. But the precautions aren't absolutely needed if you don't see any blood when you come in contact with other body fluids, such as:

• Breast milk.
• Stool.
• Mucus from the nose or lungs.
• Sweat.
• Tears.
• Urine.
• Vomit.

How can you reduce your risk of exposure to blood and body fluids?

Blood and body fluid precautions involve the use of protective barriers such as gloves, gowns, masks, and eye protection. These reduce the risk of exposing the skin or mucous membranes to potentially infectious fluids. Health care workers should always use protective barriers to protect themselves from exposure to another person's blood or body fluids.

• Gloves protect you whenever you touch blood; body fluids; mucous membranes; or broken, burned, or scraped skin. The use of gloves also decreases the risk of disease transmission if you are pricked with a needle.
  • Always wear gloves for handling items or surfaces soiled with blood or body fluids.
  • Wear gloves if you have scraped, cut, or chapped skin on your hands.
  • Change your gloves after each use.
  • Wash your hands immediately after removing your gloves.
  • Wash your hands and other skin surfaces immediately after they come in contact with blood or body fluids.
• Masks andprotective eye wear, such as goggles or a face shield, help protect your eyes, mouth, and nose from droplets of blood and other body fluids. Always wear a mask and protective eye wear if you are doing a procedure that may expose you to splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids.
• Gowns or aprons protect you from splashes of blood or body fluids. Always wear a gown or apron if you are doing a procedure that may expose you to splashes or sprays of blood or body fluids.

How else can I reduce my risk?

It is recommended that everyone use blood and body fluid precautions while giving first aid. You may wish to have gloves available in your home, office, or vehicle if you think you may be required to help another person in an emergency.

Other precautions can help you minimize your risk of exposure to contaminated blood and body fluids.

• If you give injections to a family member or to yourself:
  • Use puncture-resistant containers to dispose of needles, scalpels, and other sharp instruments.
  • Do not recap needles.
  • Do not bend or handle used needles or disposable syringes.
• Avoid touching objects that may be contaminated.

Learn first aid and CPR, so when you are faced with an emergency or injury, you will know what to do.

What should I do if I am exposed?

• Wash your hands immediately after any exposure to blood or body fluids, even if you wear gloves.
• If you get splashed in the eyes, nose, or mouth, flush with water.
• If you are pricked by a needle (needle stick), contact your doctor right away for further advice.

Credits

Current as of: July 1, 2021

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
W. David Colby IV MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease

Which regulation states that all body fluids are treated as if they are infectious?

What technique assumes all body fluids are infectious?

What means treating blood and body fluids as if they are infected?

Which body fluids must be considered infectious?