Healthcare personnel are at risk for occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens, including hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Most exposures to bloodborne pathogens occur through needlesticks or cuts from other sharp instruments contaminated with an infected patient's blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIMs). At Emory Healthcare, our most frequent exposures occur from syringe needles, suture needles, and scalpels. Exposure is also possible through contact of the eye, nose, mouth, or non-intact skin (e.g., exposed skin that is chapped, abraded, or afflicted with dermatitis) with a patient's blood or OPIMs, although such exposures are much less likely to result in infection.

OPIMs other than blood associated with the transmission of bloodborne pathogens include:

semen
vaginal secretions
cerebrospinal fluid
synovial fluid
pleural fluid
pericardial fluid
peritoneal fluid
amniotic fluid
any body fluid that is visibly contaminated with blood
unfixed tissues from patients

Fluids/effluents that have NOT been associated with the transmission of bloodborne pathogens in the absence of visible contamination with blood include:

nasal secretions
saliva
sputum
sweat
tears
urine
vomitus

Most exposures to bloodborne pathogens do NOT result in infection. Following an exposure, the risk of infection varies with factors such as:

• The pathogen involved
• The type of exposure, with percutaneous exposure with a hollow bore needle and deeper wounds more likely to result in infection
• The amount of blood or OPIM involved in the exposure
• The amount of virus (viral load) in the patient's blood or OPIM at the time of exposure

Approximate rates of infection following an exposure are:

HIV		percutaneous exposure to HIV-infected blood		0.3% (range 0.2%-0.5%)
		mucous membrane exposure		0.09% (range 0.006%-0.5%)
HCV		percutaneous exposure to HCV-infected blood		1.8% (range: 0%-7%)
HBV		percutaneous exposure to HBV-infected blood		6% to 30%