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C <br />Whether or not you work directly with <br />patients, you need to protect yourself <br />from exposure to bloodhorne pathogens <br />(disease-causin germs carried by blood <br />or certain body fluids. Rnowing how <br />these infections are spread will help <br />you prevent them. <br />Hove /1.i'P CrrtP ,e-,(4 <br />t" <br />Many infectious p2mis arc carried in blood and in hody hluud may be present <br />(such as saliva, semen, fecal matter, and amniotic fluid. if infected blood comes into contact <br />with any opening or break in your skin, you may be exposed to disease. Two of the most <br />common and dangerous types of bloodborne disease that may infect health care workers are <br />caused by the licpatitis B virus (HBV) and the hurnan immunodeficiency virus (HIV). <br />Infected blood can enter your body <br />through your eyes, nose, mouth, or any <br />other opening or break in your skin. <br />m <br />Hepatitis B infection can <br />lead to liver damage, cancer, <br />and even death. Symptoms <br />may be mild and flulike. <br />Some people have no symp- <br />toms at all. <br />A vaccination series is <br />available to prevent Hepatitis <br />B infection. Your employer <br />provides the hepatitis B <br />vaccination free of charge <br />to employees who are at risk <br />for bloodborne exposure. <br />Rashes <br />Burns <br />cuts UL <br />Hangnails <br />—.0090 <br />HIV <br />Although HN is much less <br />likely than hepatitis B to be <br />spread in the workplace, it <br />could potentially be spread <br />anywhere that blood is <br />present. HIV weakens the <br />body's immune system and <br />causes AIDS. Symptoms may <br />include weight loss, night <br />sweats, fever, fatigue, gland <br />pain and swelling, and muscle <br />or joint pain. There is current- <br />ly no vaccine for HIV and no <br />cure for AIDS. <br />Eyes <br />Nose <br />Mouth <br />Other Bloodborne <br />Diseases <br />Blood may carry other serious <br />infections, such as hepatitis C, <br />malaria, and syphilis. If <br />discovered early enough, <br />these conditions can usually <br />be treated with medication. <br />