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UVM Environmental Safety FacilityECP Appendix D:
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Using Standard Precautions is the primary and recommended means of protection from infection. Wash your hands frequently and especially when you remove laboratory gloves. Report any exposure immediately to your supervisor and seek medical attention, the sooner the better. Regulatory information about the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and a link to it can be found on the OSHA web site at http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/bloodbornepathogens/index.html . The UVM Exposure Control Plan can be accessed through the Environmental Safety Facility website: http://esf.uvm.edu.
What Is Hepatitis B? Hepatitis B is an inflammation of the liver caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV is one of several known forms of hepatitis. Initial symptoms, which may appear in only one-third of infections, are much like a mild flu, including fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and sometimes jaundice and dark urine. Chronic liver disease may result from exposure to HBV in about 10% of cases.
How Is HBV Transmitted? Hepatitis B is transmitted between people through contact with blood, body fluids or unfixed tissues.
How Can HBV Be Controlled? As with all bloodborne pathogens, using Standard Precautions is the primary and recommended means of protection. This is the practice of treating all human and primate material (except sweat, which is not considered to be potentially infectious) as if it is infectious with a bloodborne or other pathogen and avoiding all direct contact with this material. There is also a vaccine that will prevent Hepatitis B infection. Three injections of the vaccine, given over a 6 month period will protect 90-95% of people from HBV infection for at least 10 years. Also, Hepatitis B Immune Globulin (HBIG) can be given to people who have not had the HBV vaccine and have had a direct exposure to the Hepatitis B virus. HBIG is made from human plasma and gives protection for the first 1 to 3 months after exposure.
Getting the Vaccine at UVM - Every employee designated to be at risk for exposure to human blood, tissues or body fluids is eligible to receive the Hepatitis B vaccination series and the titer (to check for immunity to HBV) at no charge. By government mandate, this designation and the offer of the vaccine must occur within 10 days of assignment to a position in which exposure to HBV may occur. The supervisor fills out the Infectious Materials Risk Designation Form and the employee completes the Hepatitis B Vaccination Consent/Dissent Form, both available from the Environmental Safety Facility (ESF) at 656-5400.
Employees can receive the vaccine at the UVM Center for Health and Wellbeing, DeGoesbriand Building, 425 Pearl Street, Burlington, VT. Call to schedule an appointment at (802) 656-3350 or 656-0847.
Employees need to bring a completed copy of the UVM Risk Designation Form to their first appointment.
What Is Hepatitis C? Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C is the most common bloodborne disease in the United States. Liver disease results in about 85% of HCV infections, accounting for about 40% of the chronic liver disease in this country. Initial symptoms are similar to HBV but the most common symptom is extreme fatigue. Ten to 30% of people infected with HCV will have no initial symptoms.
How Is HCV Transmitted? Hepatitis C is transmitted between people through contact with blood, body fluids or unfixed tissues.
Is There a Vaccine for HCV? There is currently no vaccine available for Hepatitis C. Using Standard Precautions is the primary and recommended means of protection. This is the practice of treating all human and primate material (except sweat, which is not considered to be potentially infectious) as if it is infectious with a bloodborne or other pathogen and avoiding all direct contact with this material.
What is HIV/AIDS? AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a serious disease that weakens the body's immune system and destroys the body's ability to fight infection and illness. AIDS is caused by a virus called the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Most people who have HIV have no symptoms for 10 or more years.
Symptoms may appear slowly, such as loss of appetite and weight loss, fever and night sweats, skin rashes, diarrhea, swollen glands, and fatigue. These are all symptoms of other diseases as well and may vary from person to person. AIDS is marked by susceptibility to many forms of cancer and pneumonia.
How Is HIV Transmitted? HIV is transmitted between people through contact with blood, body fluids or unfixed tissues. The virus is known to occur only in blood, vaginal secretions, semen, breast milk and interior body fluids. There is currently no evidence that HIV can be transmitted through saliva, urine, vomit, nasal fluid, feces or tears, unless blood is visible in those fluids.
How Can HIV Be Controlled? There is no vaccine for HIV. Using Standard Precautions is the primary and recommended means of protection. This is the practice of treating all human and primate material (except sweat, which is not considered to be potentially infectious) as if it is infectious with a bloodborne or other pathogen and avoiding all direct contact with this material.
Standard Precautions Treat all human material (except sweat) as if it is infectious. Never touch this material with your bare skin. Report any exposure incidents to your supervisor immediately and seek medical attention, the sooner the better.
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From the UVM Risk Management web
site File URL:
http://esf.uvm.edu/uvmecp/ecpappd.html |
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Version 5.0 Last Revised: July 1, 2003 |
