Frequently Asked Questions - Bloodborne Pathogens — Occupational Exposure
- What constitutes an occupational exposure in dentistry?
- What body fluids are potentially infectious during an occupational exposure?
- What is the risk of infection after an occupational exposure?
- What should be done following an occupational exposure?
- What factors must qualified health care professionals consider when assessing the need for follow-up of occupational exposures?
- What are some measures to reduce the risk of blood contact?
- Do I have to use dental safety devices?
An exposure can be defined as a percutaneous injury (e.g., needlestick or cut with a sharp object) or contact of mucous membrane or nonintact skin (e.g., exposed skin that is chapped, abraded, or with dermatitis) with blood, saliva, tissue, or other body fluids that are potentially infectious. Exposure incidents might place dental health care personnel at risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and therefore should be evaluated immediately following treatment of the exposure site by a qualified health care professional.1Top of Page
When evaluating occupational exposures to fluids that might contain hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), health care workers should consider that all blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions except sweat, may contain transmissible infectious agents. Blood contains the greatest proportion of infectious bloodborne virus particle titers of all body fluids and is the most critical transmission vehicle in the health-care setting. During dental procedures it is predictable that saliva will become contaminated with blood. If blood is not visible, it is still likely that very small quantities of blood are present, but the risk for transmitting HBV, HCV, or HIV is extremely small. Despite this small transmission risk, a qualified health care professional1 should evaluate any occupational exposure2 to saliva in dental settings, regardless of visible blood.Top of Page
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
Health care workers who have received hepatitis B vaccine and have developed immunity to the virus are at virtually no risk for infection. For an unvaccinated person, the risk from a single needlestick or a cut exposure to HBV-infected blood ranges from 6%–30% and depends on the hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status of the source individual. Individuals who are both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive and HBeAg positive have more virus in their blood and are more likely to transmit HBV.
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
Based on limited studies, the estimated risk for infection after a needlestick or cut exposure to HCV-infected blood is approximately 1.8%. The risk following a blood splash is unknown but is believed to be very small; however, HCV infection from such an exposure has been reported.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- The average risk for HIV infection after a needlestick or cut exposure to HlV-infected blood is 0.3% (about 1 in 300). Stated another way, 99.7% of needlestick/cut exposures to HIV-contaminated blood do not lead to infection.
- The risk after exposure of the eye, nose, or mouth to HIV-infected blood is estimated to be, on average, 0.1% (1 in 1,000).
- The risk after exposure of the skin to HlV-infected blood is estimated to be less than 0.1%. A small amount of blood on intact skin probably poses no risk at all. There have been no documented cases of HIV transmission due to an exposure involving a small amount of blood on intact skin (a few drops of blood on skin for a short period of time). The risk may be higher if the skin is damaged (for example, by a recent cut), if the contact involves a large area of skin, or if the contact is prolonged.
Wounds and skin sites that have been in contact with blood or body fluids should be washed with soap and water; mucous membranes should be flushed with water. Immediate evaluation must be performed by a qualified health care professional.1 Health care providers who evaluate exposed dental health care professionals should be
- Selected before dental health care professionals are placed at risk of exposure.
- Experienced in providing antiretroviral therapy.
- Familiar with the unique nature of dental injuries so they can provide appropriate guidance on the need for antiretroviral prophylaxis.
Employers should follow all federal (including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)) and state requirements for recording and reporting occupational injuries and exposures. The following information should be included in the exposure report, recorded in the exposed person's confidential medical record, and made available to qualified health care professionals:1
- Date and time of exposure.
- Details of the procedure being performed, including where and how the exposure occurred, whether the exposure involved a sharp device, the type of device, whether there was visible blood on the device, and how and when during its handling the exposure occurred.
- Details of the exposure, including the type and amount of fluid or material and the severity of the exposure. For a percutaneous injury, details would include the depth of the wound, the gauge of the needle, and whether fluid was injected; for a skin or mucous membrane exposure they would include the estimated volume of material, the duration of contact, and the condition of the skin (e.g., chapped, abraded, or intact).
- Details about the exposure source—whether the patient was infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and his or her hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status; hepatitis C virus (HCV); or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); and, if the source was infected with HIV, the stage of disease, history of antiretroviral therapy, and viral load, if known. If this information is not known from the medical record, then the source patient should be asked to obtain serologic testing for HBV, HCV, and HIV.
- Details about the exposed person (e.g., hepatitis B vaccination and vaccine-response status).
- Details about counseling, post-exposure management, and follow-up.
The evaluation must include the following factors to determine the need for further follow-up:
Type of exposure
- Percutaneous injury (e.g., depth, extent)
- Mucous membrane exposure
- Nonintact skin exposure
- Bites resulting in blood exposure to either person involved
Type and amount of fluid/tissue
- Fluids containing blood
Infectious status of source
- Presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)
- Presence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody
- Presence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody
Susceptibility of exposed person
- Hepatitis B vaccine and vaccine response status
- HBV, HCV, or HIV immune status
After conducting this initial evaluation of the occupational exposure, a qualified health care professional must decide whether to conduct further follow-up on an individual basis using all of the information obtained.Top of Page
Avoiding occupational exposures to blood is the primary way to prevent transmission of HBV, HCV, and HIV in health care settings. Methods used to reduce such exposures in dental settings include engineering and work practice controls and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Engineering controls isolate or remove the bloodborne pathogens hazard from the workplace. These controls are frequently technology-based and often incorporate safer designs of instruments and devices. Examples include sharps disposal containers, rubber dams, and self-sheathing anesthetic needles. Whenever possible, engineering controls should be used as the primary method to reduce exposures to bloodborne pathogens following skin penetration with sharp instruments or needles.
Work practice controls are behavior-based and are intended to reduce the risk of blood exposure by changing the manner in which a task is performed. Examples include using the "scoop" technique to recap an anesthetic needle, removing burs before placing the hand piece in the dental unit, and restricting the use of fingers during suturing and when administering anesthesia.
Personal protective equipment consists of specialized clothing or equipment worn to protect against hazards. Examples include gloves, masks, protective eyewear with side shields, and gowns to prevent skin and mucous membrane exposures.Top of Page
Mandated by the Needlestick and Prevention Act, changes to OSHA's bloodborne pathogen standard were published on January 18, 2001, and took effect April 18, 2001. The revisions clarify the need for employers to select safer needle devices as they become available and to involve employees in identifying and choosing the devices. Additional information about developing a safety program and identifying and evaluating safer dental devices can be found at the following Web sites:
- Forms for screening and evaluating safer dental devices
- Current list of available safer dental devices
- State legislation on needlestick safety
Beltrami EM. The risk and prevention of occupational human immunodeficiency virus infection. Seminars in Infection Control 2001;1:2–18.
CDC. Guidelines for prevention of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus to health care and public-safety workers. MMWR 1989;38(S-6):1–36.
CDC. Update: Universal precautions for prevention of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and other bloodborne pathogens in health care settings. MMWR 1988;37:377–382, 387–388.
CDC. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. NIOSH Alert: Preventing needlestick injuries in health care settings. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, CDC, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1999.
CDC. Updated U.S. Public Health Service guidelines for the management of occupational exposures to HBV, HCV, and HIV and recommendations for postexposure prophylaxis. MMWR 2001;50(No.RR-11).
CDC. Updated U.S. Public Health Service guidelines for the management of occupational exposures to HIV and recommendations for Postexposure Prophylaxis MMWR 2005;54(No. RR-9):1–17. Accessed 9/21/09.
Chiarello LA, Bartley JB. Prevention of blood exposure in health care personnel. Seminars in Infection Control 2001;1:30–43.
US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 29 CFR Part 1910.1030. Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens; Needlestick and Other Sharps Injuries; Final Rule. Federal Register 2001;66:5317–5325. Updated from and including 29 CFR Part 1910.1030. Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens; final rule. Federal Register December 6, 1991;56:64003–64182. Accessed 9/21/09.
- A qualified health care professional is any health care provider who can provide counseling and perform all medical evaluations and procedures in accordance with the most current recommendations of the U.S. Public Health Service, including postexposure chemotherapeutic prophylaxis when indicated.
- See response to question, "What constitutes an occupational exposure in dentistry?"
- Page last reviewed: October 25, 2013
- Page last updated: October 25, 2013
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