4.4 Bloodborne Pathogens & Sharps/Exposure
Key Takeaways
- Bloodborne pathogens such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV spread through blood and certain body fluids contacting non-intact skin or mucous membranes.
- Under OSHA standard precautions, the CNA treats all blood and body fluids as infectious and wears gloves whenever contact is possible.
- Sharps and broken glass are never picked up by hand; they go directly into a labeled, puncture-resistant sharps container.
- After a blood or body-fluid exposure, wash the area, report to the nurse immediately, and follow the facility exposure-control plan.
- Biohazard-labeled bags and containers are used for blood-soaked or infectious waste and are never mixed with regular trash.
Bloodborne Pathogens
Bloodborne pathogens are infectious organisms carried in blood and certain body fluids. The main ones in healthcare are hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). They can spread when infected blood or fluid contacts non-intact skin, the eyes, the mouth, or other mucous membranes, or through a needle or sharp.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard is the basis for treating all blood and body fluids as infectious. The CNA does not need to know a resident's diagnosis to apply protection; standard precautions already require it.
CNA Protections
- Wear gloves whenever contact with blood or body fluids is possible.
- Use a gown, mask, and eye protection when splashing is possible.
- Cover your own cuts or open skin before care.
- Accept the hepatitis B vaccination series offered to healthcare workers.
Safe Sharps Handling
A CNA's normal role does not include needles, but a CNA may find a used sharp, a razor, or broken glass. Rules:
| Situation | Correct Action |
|---|---|
| Used sharp or needle found | Do not pick it up by hand; tell the nurse and use the sharps container per policy |
| Sharps container | Puncture-resistant, labeled, never overfilled, never reach inside |
| Broken glass | Use a brush and dustpan or tongs, not bare hands |
| Disposable razor | Discard in the sharps container after shaving care |
Exposure Response
If blood or body fluid contacts your skin, eyes, or mouth, or you sustain a sharps injury:
- Wash the skin with soap and water; flush eyes or mucous membranes with water.
- Report to the nurse or supervisor immediately.
- Follow the facility exposure-control plan, including incident documentation and any required medical follow-up.
Do not wait until the end of the shift. Prompt reporting allows timely evaluation and any needed treatment.
Biohazard Waste In Long-Term Care
Blood-soaked dressings, heavily contaminated items, and other infectious waste go into biohazard-labeled bags or containers, never into regular trash. Soiled linen is bagged where it is used, handled gently, never shaken, and kept away from the uniform. Following the facility waste plan protects residents, staff, and housekeeping.
A Florida CNA finds an uncapped used needle on a resident's bed. What is the correct action?
A resident's blood splashes into a Florida CNA's eye. What should the CNA do first?
Which OSHA-based principle guides how a Florida CNA handles every resident's blood and body fluids?