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Blood and body fluids, such as saliva, semen and vaginal fluid, can contain viruses. These may be passed on from an infected person to other people. If you have accidental or unplanned contact with a person's blood or body fluids, you could be at risk of HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Body fluids, such as sweat, tears, vomit or urine, may contain and pass on these viruses when blood is present in the fluid.
If you come into contact with blood and body fluids always treat them as potentially infectious. If you prick yourself with a used needle, hold the affected limb down low to get it to bleed. Do not squeeze the wound or soak it in bleach. Wash the area with warm water and soap.
If you are splashed with blood or body fluids and your skin has an open wound, healing sore, or scratch, wash the area well with soap and water. If you are splashed in the eyes, nose or mouth, rinse well with water. If you have been bitten, wash the wound with soap and water.
If you are sexually assaulted, go to the hospital emergency department as soon as possible.
If you have contact with blood or body fluids in any of the ways described you may need a vaccine or medication as soon as possible to protect against infection. It is important that you are assessed right away after the contact. Go immediately to an emergency department.
When cleaning spills, wear clean, disposable gloves and always use absorbent material first, such as paper towels. Then clean the area of the spill more thoroughly with soap and water, and finally disinfect it with household bleach. A fresh solution of bleach should be used for disinfecting and can be prepared by mixing 1 part of bleach to 9 parts of water.
Wear gloves when handling any body fluids or cleaning cuts, scrapes or wounds. Wash your hands carefully after touching any body fluids and after removing and disposing of gloves in a plastic bag. Add gloves to your first aid kit so you are prepared.
Teach children to never touch needles, syringes or condoms, and to tell an adult immediately if they find one. It is important to quickly and carefully dispose of a used condom, needle or syringe. Always wear clean disposable gloves and use tongs or pliers to pick up used condoms, needles and syringes. Discard condoms in a plastic bag. Needles and syringes should be placed in a metal or plastic container with a puncture-proof lid and disposed of in the regular garbage or according to local bylaws. Always discard used gloves in a plastic bag and wash your hands carefully with warm water and soap.
You will sign an informed consent form to test your blood for HIV, hepatitis B and C. Your treatment will be determined based on the type of exposure to blood or body fluids and your test results. The emergency doctor may try to determine whether the person's blood or body fluid may be infectious for HIV, hepatitis B and C.
In case of possible exposure to HIV, the doctor may start you on a course of anti-virus medications. These medications should be started within 2 hours following exposure or as soon as possible. The doctor will refer you to your own doctor if these medications should be taken for 1 full month. To help protect you from hepatitis B disease, you may also be given a hepatitis B vaccine and an injection of hepatitis B immune globulin.
There is no vaccine to prevent infection with hepatitis C either before exposure to the virus or after contact with infected blood or body fluids. Blood tests will show if you become infected with hepatitis C. You may be treated for the infection.
Depending on how deep and/or dirty the scratch, puncture, bite or wound, you may get a booster for tetanus if you have not had a tetanus vaccine in the last 5 to 10 years.
To find out if you have become infected from contact with blood or body fluids, you will need follow-up blood tests during the year at 3 and 6 weeks and then at 6 and 9 months after the exposure.
The risk of getting HIV, hepatitis B or C depends on the amount of virus in the blood or body fluid and the type of contact. For example, a piercing through the skin poses a greater risk than a splash on the skin.
The risk of getting infected after exposure to HIV-infected blood or body fluids is about 0.1 to 0.3 per cent. This means that 1 to 3 people will get infected out of 1000 exposures. If you are not already vaccinated and do not receive any post exposure prophylaxis, the risk of getting infected with hepatitis B virus is about 30 per cent - about 30 out of 100 people may be infected from exposure to blood or body fluids. The risk of getting infected with hepatitis C is up to 7 per cent or 7 out of 100 people.
The emergency department doctor will tell you whether your exposure puts you at risk of these infections.
Sometimes it is not possible to know for at least 6 months if you have become infected after an exposure. If you get infected, you can spread the infection to others. While you are waiting for the results of follow-up testing, take these steps to help prevent spreading the infection to others:
If you become pregnant, see your doctor or call the Oak Tree Clinic at BC Women's Hospital at 604-875-2212 or toll-free in B.C. at 1-888-711-3030.
The steps described above can help to protect you from diseases that can be spread from contact with blood or body fluids. You can help to protect yourself from other germs and diseases by following the steps described below. Teach others and especially children about how to avoid germs and diseases.
For protection against germs and disease, always wash your hands:
Hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of germs. Wash hands carefully with soap and warm water for at least 15 to 20 seconds. Waterless alcohol-based hand rinses can be used as long as hands are not heavily soiled. |
Cover your mouth with the inside of your elbow when you cough or sneeze, and then wash your hands.
#25a Hepatitis B Vaccine
#40a Hepatitis C Infection
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For more HealthLink BC File topics, visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca/healthfiles/index.stm or your local public health unit. Click on www.HealthLinkBC.ca or call 8-1-1 for non-emergency health information and services in B.C. For deaf and hearing-impaired assistance, call 7-1-1 in B.C. Translation services are available in more than 130 languages on request. |
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