Care of

Health Care
Workers
Healthcare Workers’ Risk and Management
 Risk of Hepatitis B

The route of transmission for hepatitis B virus is Following standard precautions is important,
through body substances such as blood and but immunization is the best way of preventing
blood products, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, transmission to health care staff.
peritoneal, pleural, pericardial and synovial
fluid, amniotic fluid, semen and vaginal
secretions and any other body fluid containing
blood.
 Risk of Hepatitis C

1 2 3
The route of No post exposure As for hepatitis B
infection is mainly therapy is available viral infection, the
parenteral. for hepatitis C source person must
be tested for HCV
infection.
Risk of HIV
The route of transmission for
HIV is person to person via
sexual contact, sharing of
needles contaminated with
HIV, infusions that are
contaminated with HIV,
transplantation of organs or
tissues that are infected with
HIV.
Risk of HIV
 The risk of a health care worker acquiring
HIV after a needlestick or other “sharps”
injury is less than 0.5%.
 Risk reduction must be undertaken for all
bloodborne pathogens, including:
adherence to standard precautions using
personal protective equipment and
appropriate use of safety devices and a
needle disposal system to limit sharps
exposure.
 Training for health care workers in safe
sharps practice should be ongoing.
 Risk of TB
1 2
Health care workers Health care workers at the
have varying risks for greatest risk of exposure are
exposure to tuberculosis those working in TB-risk
(TB). areas such as medical wards,
chest clinics, bronchoscopy
units, radiology units, TB
laboratories, HIV wards and
autopsy rooms.
3
If a staff member has been
exposed to TB they should
report to the Infection
Control Practitioner or the
Staff Health Nurse
depending on the hospital
protocol for health care
worker exposures.
Other infections; varicella, influenza,
pertussis, diphtheria, rabies

• Transmission of these micro-

organisms may be uncommon, but
policies to manage staff exposure
should be developed.
• Vaccination of hospital staff against
varicella is recommended.
• Influenza vaccinations should be given
yearly.
• Rabies vaccinations may be
appropriate in some facilities in
countries where rabies is enzootic.
Sharps

Needlestick injuries are For other personnel, the

the most common of risk of hepatitis B, hepatitis
sharps injuries, although C and HIV infection should
other contaminated sharp be assessed and
instruments may also appropriate immunization
cause injuries. or chemoprophylactic
steps taken.
Sharps
 Their use, disassembly or disposal.
 30 – 50% of injuries occur during
clinical procedures:
 Withdrawing a needle from a patient.
 Accessing IV line.
 During improper sharp disposal.
 During clean-up.
 Recapping: 25 – 30% of all injuries.
Sharps
 Staff reductions.
 Difficult patient care situations.
 Reduced lighting.
 New staff or students.
 Needles are disposed
improperly.
 Emptying disposal containers.
Sharps
 Employees training.
 Recommended guidelines.
 Safe recapping procedures.
 Effective disposal systems.
 Surveillance programs.
 Improved equipment design
Sharps
 Use devices with safety
features.
Safe handling and disposal of
medical waste.
 Report all needle stick injuries.
 Follow recommended infection
prevention practices.
 Participate in blood-born
pathogen training.
Sharps
 Properly trained health care
workers.
Encourage the reporting and
timely follow up.
Promotion of safety
awareness.
Analyze needle stick injuries
to identify hazards.
HEALTH CARE
workers
are
Thus,

Employees’
Health
Program
Employees’ Health Program

PERSONNEL IMMUNIZATION POST-EXPOSURE PPE

EXAMINATION POLICIES