Bloodborne pathogens are germs that are present in the blood and can cause diseases. These germs may include:
Anyone exposed to blood, saliva, or other body fluids visibly contaminated with blood are at risk. Some people are at higher risk of being exposed, such as first responders and health care workers. People can be exposed to bloodborne pathogens through many different ways, such as:
According to the Ontario Hospital Association and Ontario Medical Association’s Blood-borne Diseases Surveillance Protocol for Ontario Hospitals [3], after a needle-stick injury from a needle contaminated with hepatitis B in the health care setting, the chance of being infected is 6 to 30%. In similar situations, there are lower risks of being infected for HIV (0.3%) and hepatitis C (1.8%).
Your risk of acquiring infections can vary, depending on several factors, including the type of injury, the infection status of the individual whose blood you were exposed to, the amount of virus in the blood or body fluid, and your own health status. That is why it is important to seek immediate medical attention from a health care provider who can assess your risk and decide whether or not you need to start treatment or preventive measures.
Time after Exposure | Blood Tests |
---|---|
Baseline (when first exposed) | HIV, Hepatitis B (HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc), Hepatitis C, and liver function tests |
6 weeks | HIV, Hepatitis B (if required), and Hepatitis C |
3 months | HIV, Hepatitis B (if required), Hepatitis C, and liver function tests | 6 months | HIV, Hepatitis B (if required, Hepatitis C, and liver function tests |
1 year | HIV (if source has both Hepatitis C and HIV or if post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is being used) |
Links
[1] https://www.wechu.org/sexual-health/hepatitis-b
[2] https://www.wechu.org/sexual-health/hiv-aids
[3] https://www.oha.com/Documents/Blood%20Borne%20Diseases%20Protocol%20(November%202018).pdf
[4] https://www.wechu.org/professionals/mandatory-blood-testing-act
[5] https://www.wsib.ca/en/injured-or-ill-people/forms-injured-or-ill-people/forms-injured-or-ill-people
[6] https://www.wechu.org/tags/mandatory-blood-testing-act
[7] https://www.wechu.org/tags/hepatitis
[8] https://www.wechu.org/tags/hiv
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