Bloodborne Pathogens: What School Personnel Need to Know

BLOODBORNE
PATHOGENS:
What School Personnel
Need to Know

Bloodborne pathogens
are microorganisms carried by human blood and other body fluids.
They are organisms so small you cannot see them with the naked eye.
They can be spread through contact with infected blood. If they
get into your bloodstream, you may become infected and sick.

Most school
personnel can reasonably anticipate coming into contact with blood
during their day-to-day work duties — whether in the classroom,
on the playground, on the playing field, or on the school bus. That’s
why it’s imperative that all school employees understand the danger
of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and ways to minimize their risk.
It’s also important for school employees to know more about their
personal risks for disease transmission related to sexual behavior
and drug use.

Bloodborne pathogens
may be present in blood and other materials, such as:

	body fluids containing visible blood
	semen and vaginal secretions
	torn or loose skin

Bloodborne pathogens
can cause infection by entering your body through:

	open cuts and nicks
	skin abrasions
	dermatitis
	acne
	mucous membranes of your mouth, eyes or nose

Special education
employees should take extra caution while working with severely disabled
children. Some disabled children might be more:

	vulnerable to injury
	likely to have special medical needs
	dependent on adults for personal care

WORKPLACE
TRANSMISSION
The most common bloodborne pathogens are:

	HIV
	Hepatitis B
	Hepatitis C

Most people
think of HIV first when they hear bloodborne pathogens, but actually
the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is more common and more easily transmitted
in the workplace than HIV.