OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard

Study Notes

Synovial fluid, semen, and amniotic fluids are examples of potentially infectious materials (OPIM) that can carry dangerous bloodborne pathogens.
Bloodborne pathogens can cause harmful diseases and are a serious exposure hazard for anyone who interacts with patients or areas contaminated with bodily fluids.

The three most common bloodborne pathogens are Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).
HIV attacks the immune system, making individuals vulnerable to opportunistic infections and cancers, and can progress to AIDS if left untreated.
Hepatitis B and C are types of viral hepatitis that can cause chronic liver infection, cirrhosis, cancer, and liver failure if left untreated.

An estimated 1.2 million people have HIV in the US, with higher risk populations including those living in densely populated metropolitan areas, Black/African American individuals, Hispanic/Latino individuals, and those engaging in male-to-male sexual contact.
The annual rate of new HIV diagnosis decreased by 7 percent between 2017 and 2021.
An estimated 2.4 million people in the US were living with chronic hepatitis C between 2013 and 2016, with higher risk populations including those engaging in IV drug use, males, and people aged 20–39 or 55–70 years.
An estimated 880,000 to 1.89 million people have chronic hepatitis B in the US, with higher risk populations including people born outside of the US, those using IV drugs, and individuals engaging in male-to-male sexual contact.

Symptoms of HIV include fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, sore throat, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and mouth ulcers.
Symptoms of hepatitis C include fever, fatigue, dark urine, clay-colored stool, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, and jaundice.
Symptoms of hepatitis B include fever, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay-colored bowel movements, joint pain, and jaundice.

Bloodborne pathogens are spread through contact with blood and OPIM through mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth, or through any type of broken skin.
Sweat, saliva, urine, and tears are not inherently infectious, but bodily fluids can be hard to differentiate, so it's recommended to treat all blood and OPIM as though they are infectious.