day 5 Flashcards
what are the most common blood borne pathogens?
Hep A, B, C, and HIV
What are some etiologies of hepatitis?
viruses, alcohol, medications, industrial solvents
What are signs/symptoms of hepatitis?
fatigue, nausea, decreased appetite, mild fever, mild abdominal pain. later on jaundice and darkening of urine
Describe Hep A
highly contagious, spread via fecal-oral route, incubation 2-6 weeks
What labs would you run to test for hepatits?
CBC, CMP or LFT (liver fxn test), hepatitis panel
How would you treat Hep A?
Supportive, avoid Tylenol and ETOH
Describe Hep B
Spread by blood or body fluids, needle sharing, from mother to child.
/How would you treat Hep B?
antivirals aimed at controlling virus and preventing liver damage. regular blood tests
Describe Hep C
Spread by infected blood (tranfusions, needles, tattoos/body piercing, small chance of sexual transmission
How can you prevent Hepatitis?
Vaccines protect against Hep A and B
Describe HIV.
Virus destroys CD4 cells, leads to AIDS
What is AIDS?
Occurs when HIV has destroyed so much of the body’s defenses that immune-cell counts fall to critical levels or life threatening infections or cancer develop
What are the most commom modes of HIV transmission?
having sex with infected partner: lining of vagina, vulva, penis, rectum, mouth
What are early signs and symptoms of HIV?
none initially. then flulike-fever, headache, fatigue, enlarged lymph (usually disappear)
What are the later signs of HIV/AIDS?
low CD4 count, opportunistic infections
When does blood exposure occur in healthcare?
disposal of contaminated needles, drawing up medicine, suturing, surgery
What do you do if stuck with infected needle?
wash with soap/water, don’t squeeze affected area, notify your supervisor
What do the new OSHA laws require of healthcare employees?
must document they have safety engineered sharp devices and needless systems to reduce exposure, exposure control plans must be updated annually, health care facilities must keep sharps injury log, requires employers to seek input from healthcare providers when selecting sharp devices
What are universal precautions?
precautions designed to prevent transmission of blood borne pathogens when providing care. under these precautions body fluids of all patients are considered infectious.
What do universal precaution not apply to?
feces, nasal, secretions, sputum, sweat, tears, urine, vomit
What are procedures for practicing universal precautions?
use of gloves, masks, eye protection, gowns. washing hands after any contact. never recap used needles and scalpels
What makes a sharp object contaminated?
anything with blood are considered “sharps”
How do you dispose of sharps?
Discard into biohazardous waste containers that are puncture resistant and clearly labeled.
List personal protective equipment.
gloves, gown, goggles, splash guard, hood, mask
