Bloodborne Pathogens

Sharps Injuries Have Major Health and Cost Impact for Surgeons

Injuries caused by needles and other sharp instruments are a major occupational hazard for surgeons—with high costs related to the risk of contracting serious infectious diseases, according to a special article in the April issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the ...More
April 2, 2013
Posted in News
Researchers Study Nurses' Knowledge of HCV Transmission

Evidence exists regarding the full prevention of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission to hemodialysis patients by implementing standard precautions. However, little information is available regarding the frequency with which hospitals have adopted evidence-based practices ...More
February 13, 2013
Posted in News, PPE & Standard Precautions
Twelve Years After Legislation, Sharps Safety Still a Concern in All Healthcare Settings

On Nov. 6, 2012, U.S. clinicians and sharps-device manufacturers celebrated the 12th anniversary of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act. Since the legislation was signed into law, the number of needlestick injuries decreased by one-third; however, the numbers of ...More
December 3, 2012
Posted in Articles, PPE & Standard Precautions
Imugen Presents Study Findings for Tests to Identify Babesia Infection in Blood Donors

Initial results of Imugen’s new investigational blood tests to screen blood donors for babesiosis were presented at the annual scientific sessions of the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), held in Boston in October. Data from the Imugen studies were summarized at ...More
November 8, 2012
Posted in News
World Hepatitis Day 2012 is July 28

World Hepatitis Day 2012 takes place on July 28, 2012 and this year's theme is “It’s closer than you think." The campaign focuses on raising awareness of the different forms of hepatitis: what they are and how they are transmitted; who is at risk; and the various methods of ...More
July 27, 2012
Posted in News
Campaign to Engage 100,000 Healthcare Personnel Behind Needlestick Injury Prevention

Every day, 5.6 million healthcare personnel in the U.S. are put at risk of occupational exposure to HIV, hepatitis C and other life-threatening blood-borne diseases via transmission modes such as needlestick injuries. Safe in Common, a non-profit organization of healthcare ...More
March 27, 2012
Posted in News, PPE & Standard Precautions
Nursing and Healthcare Organizations Endorse Roadmap for Future Needlestick Prevention Efforts

In the 10 years since the passage of the federal Needlestick Safety and Protection Act, much progress has been made to reduce the risk of healthcare worker exposure to bloodborne pathogens—yet significant challenges remain. The International Healthcare Worker Safety Center ...More
March 8, 2012
Posted in News, Policies and Practice
Study Shows Nurses Face Blood Exposure During Insertion and Removal of Peripheral IV Catheter

About 1 in 2 nurses experience blood exposure, other than from a needlestick, on their skin or in their eyes, nose or mouth at least once a month when inserting a peripheral intravenous (IV) catheter, according to a new study by the International Healthcare Worker Safety ...More
March 7, 2012
Posted in News
OSHA Most Frequently Cites ASCs for Bloodborne Pathogen Violations

Although more than half of the surgeries in the U.S. are performed inambulatory care centers, ambulatory surgery center (ASC) resources and safety oversight may lag significantly behind those of their hospital counterparts. In the past four years, the Occupational Safety ...More
November 1, 2011
Posted in News, Infections & Pathogens
Occupational Exposures to Blood and Body Fluids Remain Common Despite Safety Devices, Education

Amy M. Treakle, MD, an infectious diseases and infection control expert at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and colleagues, sought to analyze a decade of hospital staff and student exposures to blood and body fluids (BBF) and to identify risk factors ...More
October 7, 2011
Posted in News, Infections & Pathogens