Healthcare workers come into contact with materials that may contain bloodborne pathogens. Bloodborne pathogens are infectious organisms, usually viruses, that live in human blood and body fluids.
The bloodborne pathogens that are most likely to be present in human body fluids and are, therefore, of greatest concern to healthcare workers are:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Currently, most workers in the United States are unlikely to encounter the Ebola virus or individuals with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). However, healthcare workers are at greater risk for occupational EVD exposure than workers in most other professions. OSHA’s requirements and recommendations for protecting workers at greater risk for EVD exposure are discussed at the end of this course.
