2. What are Bloodborne Pathogens
Bloodborne Pathogens are disease causing
microorganisms that may be present in human
blood. They may be transmitted with any
exposure to blood or other potentially infectious
material.
Two pathogens of significance are Hepatitis B
Virus (HBV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV)
3. Hepatitis B
What is Hepatitis B?
One of the five viruses that causes illness directly affecting the liver
Major cause of viral hepatitis which is preventable through immunization
Hepatitis B Symptoms:
Weakness, fatigue, anorexia, nausea, abdominal pain, fever, headache,
possible jaundice (A yellow discoloration of the skin)
Blood will test positive for the HBV surface antigen within 2 to 6 weeks after
symptoms develop
May show no symptoms, and therefore not be diagnosed
4. Hepatitis B Facts
200 out of 8700 health care workers contracting Hepatitis B
will die yearly.
HBV is more persistent than HIV in that it is able to survive
for at least a week in dried blood on environment surfaces or
contaminated instruments.
Approximately 85% of patients recover in 6 - 8 weeks.
5. Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a
virus that infects immune system T4
blood cells in humans and renders them
less effective in preventing disease
It is the virus identified as being
responsible for Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
6. HIV Symptoms
Night sweats, weight loss, fever, fatigue, gland
pain or swelling, muscle or joint pain
May feel fine and not be aware of exposure to
HIV for as much as 8 to 10 years
Blood tests may not show positive for as long as a
year, and therefore multiple tests may be required
to determine if the person has been infected
7. HIV Facts
Estimates in the US say that 1 out of 250 people are infected
with HIV
There are over 100 case reports of health care workers
whose HIV infection is associated with occupational exposure
Over 200,000 AIDS patients have been reported to the CDC,
84 of which are health care workers with no other identified
reason for infection
8. Universal Precautions to be Taken by PCPD
Officers:
Wear disposable surgical gloves when contact with blood or other potentially
infectious materials, or a member of a high risk group, is likely.
Wash hands thoroughly as soon as possible after contact with blood or other
potentially infectious materials or a member of a high risk group. Members should
wash hands even if gloves were worn during contact.
When hand washing facilities aren't present, an antiseptic hand cleanser should be
used until they are. When using such a cleanser, officers should allow hands to air
dry by rubbing them together in a vigorous manner before engaging in other
activities.
Carefully bandage open wounds and cuts on their hands and lower arms to avoid
contact with contaminated objects. Bandages should be sealed on four sides and
should be changed if they become soiled or wet.
9. Universal Precautions to be Taken by PCPD Officers
(Continued):
Supervisors should be observant for open wounds and cuts on their subordinates
and ensure proper precautions are taken.
Members are cautioned to be aware that, in the event contaminated substances
transfer to their hands or clothing, any object they touch or come into contact with
may also become contaminated.
Gloves should be removed after contact with injured persons or members of a high
risk group, between tasks, and when departing an accident or crime scene.
Contaminated clothing must be removed immediately or as soon thereafter as
possible.
All departmental property and equipment should be cleaned and decontaminated
with an appropriate disinfectant after contact wtih blood or other potentially infected
materials.
10. Universal Precautions to be Taken by PCPD
Officers (Continued):
Members should not eat, drink, smoke, handle contact lenses,
or apply cosmetics or lip balm in situations where there is a
likelihood of exposure to blood or other potentially infectious
materials.
Members should wear personal protective equipment (PPE),
as appropriate, given the nature fo the specific hazard
Contaminated personal protective equipment and other
contaminated materials should be propertly disposed of in a
red biohazard bag or container.
11. Conducting Searches of Persons, Places, and Things
Officers should use extraordinary care when conducting
searches of persons, places, and things.
Officers should never blindly place their hands into areas
where there may be sharp objects that could puncture the
skin
Vehicles, pockets, purses, luggage, backpacks, bedding and
other objects should be searched slowly and methodically
Members should never attempt to break, bend, shear, recap
or otherwise manipulate needles or syringes by hand
12. Entering and Remaining in Crime
Scenes
Officer responding to crime scenes contaminated with blood or body fluids should
exercise extreme care to avoid contact with contaminated substances, whether those
substances are wet or dry
Once the situation is assessed, personal protective equipment should be worn, as
necessary, to safely process or remain at the scene
Eye protection and facemasks should be worn whenever collecting blood or body
fluids as evidence
Members should wear eye protection in situations where blood or body fluid splash is
likely
Members should not smoke, eat, or drink at a crime scene. Members should be
aware that they will contaminate all objects they touch if they themselves are
contaminated
13. Entering and Remaining in Crime
Scenes (Continued)
In keeping with good investigative practices, unauthorized persons should
not be permitted to enter crime scenes until investigative activities and
decontamination have been completed
If, in the members professional judgment, the use of personal protective
equipment would prevent them from performing a needed medical or
emergency procedure or would pose an increased hazard to their safety,
the wearing of personal protective equipment may be waived. Great care
and sound judgment must be exercised in the event PPE is not utilized
Contaminated personal protective equipment should be removed
immediately upon exiting the crime scene and placed in an appropriate
biohazard container or red biohazard bag.
14. Handling Evidence/Property
Extraordinary care must be taken when handling evidence or property contaminated
with blood or other potentially infectious materials. Gloves and other PPE should be
worn as necessary.
Contaminated sharps should be picked up using mechanical means, such as pliers,
tweezers, tongs or other devices, or with appropriate hand protection
All contaminated evidence/property should be placed in appropriate containers,
according to the condition of the item
- Liquids should be placed in bottles or left in their original container if possible
- Syringes and other sharps should be placed into leak-proof, puncture resistant
containers that should always remain upright and never be allowed to overfill
- Wet items should be air-dried prior to packaging, when possible
- Items that are dry should be properly sealed (Double bagged) before submission
15. Handling Evidence/Property (Continued)
Refrigerators, freezers and all packaging used to ship or store
contaminated evidence or property should be labeled with bio-
hazardous warning labels and the agency's name, address,
and date collected. Labeling should be accomplished in a
way that will prevent loss or unintentional removal of the
labels.
No food or drink should be stored in a refrigerator, freezer or
other container together with contaminated evidence or
property, unless such food or drink is also contaminated and
has been properly packaged and labeled.
16. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The appropriate use of personal protective equipment is essential to health and
safety. Personal protective equipment is useless if it is not used when needed, or if it
is used improperly
If an officer has or develops an allergy to any personal protective equipment or device
(Such as vinyl gloves), they should advise their supervisor. The supervisor should
arrange for alternative types of equipment, such as hypoallergenic gloves, glove
liners, etc., to be supplied to the employee.
Gloves should be worn by all employees whenever hand contact with blood or other
potentially infectious materials is anticipated.
Disposable, single-use gloves must be replaced as soon as possible if they are
contaminated, torn, punctured or otherwise lose their ability to function as a barrier
Disposable gloves should not be washed or decontaminated for re-use
17. Personal Protective Equipment - Continued
Utility gloves, such as those made of vinyl, leather or other heavy material can be
decontaminated for re-use if their integrity has not been compromised. Utility gloves
must be discarded if they exhibit signs of deterioration or otherwise lose their ability to
function as a barrier.
Eye protection devices, such as goggles, glasses with side shields, face shields, etc.,
should be worn whenever splashes, spray, splatter, or dropping of blood or other
infectious materials may occur.
Protective body clothing, such as gowns or aprons, should be worn when body
exposure to blood or other infectious materials is anticipated. If a garment is
penetrated by blood or other potentially infectious materials, it should be removed
immediately or as soon thereafter as possible.
Contaminated PPE should be removed prior to leaving the work area or scene, if
feasible. The removed PPD should be placed in an appropriate bio-hazardous waste
container for disposal.
18. Availability of Personal Protective Equipment
An infectious disease kit containing the following types of PPE will be available to all
personnel having occupational exposure:
Decontamination and clean up materials will be distributed to all sergeants
Replacement PPE materials will be available from the police department's property room
PPE will be considered appropriate only if it does not allow blood or other potentially
infectious materials to pass through to or reach the member's work clothes, skin or
mucous membranes under normal conditions of use and for the duration of time that the
PPE will be in use
Additional inventory of all listed equipment is maintained by the Administrative Services
Division. In cases of emergency, PPE reserves are available from the equipment room
located in the Uniform Patrol Squad Room.
Any use of PPE while working with bio-hazardous materials (excluding the routine use of
gloves/hand wipes, etc) must be documented in the applicable incident/offense report.
"Bio-hazardous materials" warning labels and containers should be placed at all locations
where property and evidence packaging materials are located.
19. Available Personal Protective Equipment
Disposable surgical gloves
Fluid resistant disposable gowns
Eye protection
Face mask/shield
Disposable shoe covers
Liquid hand disinfectant
Disposable towelettes
Red Bag for bio-hazardous Waste
20. Cleaning Contaminated Items/Areas
Equipment contaminated with blood or other potentially infectious materials should
be decontaminated before being stored or returned to service. If decontamination
procedures cannot be effected immediately, the equipment will be taken out of
service and secured to avoid accidental contact. A "bio-hazardous warning" label
will then be attached until cleaning occurs.
Under no circumstances should disposable equipment be cleaned and then re-used
Non-disposable equipment that cannot be decontaminated should be discarded in
the proper manner in a biohazard waste container/red bag. Discarding of
contaminated non-disposable equipment must be reported via memorandum to the
members chain of command in order to obtain replacement. The memorandum
must describe the circumstances surrounding the contamination and the related
report number.
21. Cleaning Contaminated Items/Areas-Continued
Contaminated equipment and surfaces should be cleaned with hot soapy water and an approved
disinfectant or a solution containing one (1) part bleach to ten (10) parts water. It should be noted that,
once the bleach solution is mixed, it becomes ineffective after approximately 24 hours.
Contaminated areas, such as rooms, vehicle interiors, and holding cells should be disinfected prior to
being reoccupied. A "bio-hazardous warning" notice should be posted on all contaminated areas until
decontamination procedures are completed.
Bio-hazardous waste and cleaning materials should be placed into appropriately labeled waste bags that
have been constructed to prevent leakage. All waste bags must be tied or taped shut. Torn bags or
those contaminated from the outside should be placed into a second bag. All contaminated disposable
equipment should be sealed in a container, bag, or red bag (if appropriate) and properly labeled with a
Bio-Hazardous Material tag and brought to the Department's storage and pick up location to await
disposal. Contaminated equipment or materials destined for disposal should never be placed into
ordinary trash receptacles.
If a uniform or other article of clothing is soiled with blood or other potentially infectious materials, it
should be changed as soon as possible. The clothing must then be placed in a color-coded leak proof
bag and labeled "Bio-hazard". Contaminated laundry will be transported to a site selected by the agency
to perform laundering. Members must not clean contaminated laundry or take it home to be cleaned.
22. Documentation of Exposure
Documentation of every exposure incident is essential. All exposure incident will be
treated as if the source individual is infectious. There are two forms which must be
completed following and exposure incident:
Plant City Police Department Exposure Incident Report
Exposure Incident Evaluation and Follow-up
After thoroughly cleaning the affected area with soap and water, the affected member
must report the exposure incident to their immediate supervisor as soon as possible and
then complete the required forms.
During daytime working hours the affected member should report the Lakeside
Occupational Health Center (2303 Airport Rd., Plant City, FL) and the South Florida Baptist
Hospital for after hour incidents. Officers should provide documentation to staff. The
nurse will provide consultation and, if appropriate, make and appointment with the City
physician for further assessment.
The affected member should also consult with the Chief of Police regarding the possibility
of obtaining a test of the source individual's blood to determine infectivity.
The affected member's supervisors will assist in the completion of all necessary
documentation and decontamination efforts, if needed.
