NuCare Carolina Ambulance, Inc. Annual Safety Training

1. NuCare Carolina Ambulance, Inc.Annual Safety Training Infection Control 2013

2. When you start to think this lecture is boring, remember…You can get sick and die,So pay attention!

3. Training Objectives • Educate NuCare emloyees in bloodborne pathogens seen by EMS workers in the field • Discuss methods of protecting NuCare employees from bloodborne pathogens • Provide information to allow the NuCare employee to make an educated decision about the HBV vaccination • Discuss the OSHA standard on bloodborne pathogens • Discuss NuCare’s methods of compliance with the OSHA Standard

4. Definitions (From OSHA) • Bloodborne Pathogen- microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans • Exposure Incident- specific eye, mouth, mucous membrane, non-intact skin or parenteral contact with blood or OPIM that results from the performance of a member’s duties • Parenteral- piercing mucous membranes or the skin barrier through such events as needle sticks, human bites, cuts, and abrasions

5. Definitions (Continued) • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)- specialized clothing or equipment worn by a member for protection against a hazard. General work clothes (uniforms, jumpsuits, etc.) not intended to function as protection against a hazard are not PPE. • Universal Precautions- an approach to infection control where all human blood and certain human body fluids are treated as if known to be infectious • Body Substance Isolation (BSI)- a form of infection control based on the presumption that all body fluids are infectious. BSI calls for always using appropriate barriers to infection at an emergency scene, such as gloves, goggles, face shields, gowns, and protective eyewear.

6. Definitions (Con’t) • Exposure Control Plan (ECP)- agency’s plan to eliminate or minimize exposure • Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM)- • the following human body fluids: semen, vaginal secretions, CSF, synovial fluid, pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, amniotic, saliva (dental procedures), any bodily fluids contaminated with blood, any fluid that cannot be differentiated between fluid types. • Any unfixed tissue or organ from a human (living or dead)

7. Definitions (Final) • Contaminated Laundry- laundry which has been soiled with blood or OPIM or may contain sharps • Contaminated Sharps- any contaminated object that can penetrate the skin including needles, scalpels, broken glass, broken capillary tubes, and exposed ends of dental wire

8. OSHA Standard • Exposure Control Plan • Identifies job/procedures with identified risks • Schedule for implementing provisions • All provisions have been implemented • Procedure for investigation and follow-up • Plan is accessible to all employees • Supervisor Office • emsCharts Document Warehouse • Annual review by committee

9. OSHA Standard (Con’t) • Initial training upon employment • Annual re-training required • Training in: • OSHA Standard • Bloodborne Diseases and Transmission • Exposure Control Plan • Work Practices and PPE use • HBV Vaccine • Exposure recording and follow-up • Trainer guidelines

10. OSHA Standard (Con’t) • Methods of compliance • Universal Precautions • Engineering and work practice controls • Hand washing • PPE/BSI • Written cleaning schedule • Sharps and regulated waste disposal

11. OSHA Standard (Con’t) • Record keeping • OSHA mandates • Types of records to be kept • Duration of storage • Disposal of records • Hazard Communication • Warning labels required (BioHazard) or • Red Bio hazard bags instead of labels • NuCare uses both methods

12. Bloodborne Pathogen Standard • Effective March 6th, 1992 • Purpose • Limit the occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious material (OPIM) • Scope • Covers all members who could be “reasonably anticipated” as a result of performing their duties to face contact with blood and OPIM • Everyone who works for NuCare or rides as an observer or student are “reasonably anticipated” to contact blood and OPIM.

13. BBP Standard (Con’t) • Mandates of the standard • Exposure Control Plan (ECP) prevention program • Work place engineering to prevent exposure • HBV vaccine provided by RPI Ambulance • Medical evaluation/follow up • Training of employees • Record keeping

14. PPE and BSI • Use as little or as much as you feel the situation dictates • During all patient care EXAMINATION GLOVES WILL BE WORN! • NuCare provides all PPE. You do not pay for any of it. NuCare replaces it when it becomes worn or soiled

15. PPE/BSI (Con’t) • NuCare provides the following • Non-sterile, non-latex exam gloves in three sizes • Pre-packaged PPE kits containing • Golves • Mask • Shoe covers • Hand sanitizer on all ambulances • Anti-bacterial soap at the bases

16. A word on hand-sanitizer before we continue... - For immediate, short term use - Not suitable as a substitute for hand washing -You still need to wash your hands thoroughly as soon as possible

17. Sharps Disposal • DO NOT RECAP SHARPS • NuCare uses several types of sharps for BLS and ALS purposes • IV Angiocaths • Glucose testing lancets • Epi-Pens • NuCare provides sharps containers on all ambulances… Use them! • $70,000.00 per improperly disposed sharp

18. Two Major Definitions • Infectious • An illness that is caused by the body's rejection of a virus, fungi, or parasite • Communicable • Able to spread from one person to another A disease can be infectious and not communicable at the same time

19. Infectious Material • Primary Risks • Blood • Semen • Vaginal Secretions • Secondary Risks • Synovial (joint) fluid • Cardiac fluid (other than blood)) • Abdominal and stomach fluid • Pulmonary fluids • Spinal fluid • Amniotic fluid

20. Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM) • Tears • Sweat • Saliva • Urine • Stool • Vomit • Nasal secretions • Sputum

21. Modes of Transmission • Direct contact – straight from person to person, exchange of blood or body fluids ex: blood splash into the eyes • Indirect contact – person to object; infection can spread by touching surfaces that have been contaminated with the bacteria or virus ex: Loading stretcher into ambulance and not removing contaminated gloves before touching steering wheel of ambulance touching a contaminated needle

22. Direct Contact • Bloodborne • Airborne • Occult • Occult means “hidden” • “Occult blood” is blood hidden inside some other material • Idiopathic • Fancy medical word meaning “We don’t have a clue!”

23. Indirect Transmission • Vehicle-borne • The transfer of an infectious agent to a host via contaminated items such as water, food, milk, or biological products, such as blood, tissues, and organs. • Vector-borne • The transfer of infectious microorganisms from an infected host via an insect or arthropod.

24. Methods to Reduce Exposure • Engineering Controls • Devices that may be used to eliminate, minimize, or reduce occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. • Work Practice Controls • Practices and procedures that reduce or eliminate the chance of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

25. Examples • Engineering Controls • Sharps containers • Self capping needles • PPE • Work Practice Controls • Decontaminating work area • Frequent hand washing • Consistent use of PPE

26. PracticesProtect Yourself • Wash your hands • Wear PPE • Avoid contact with broken skin or mucous membranes • Wash your hands • Did I mention… wash your hands

27. Practices • All infectious materials go into a red biohazard bag. No one is to remove anything from a biohazard bag. • All infectious sharps go into a red sharps container. No one is to remove anything from a sharps container. Sharps containers are located on the ambulance and in the PCF.

28. Bio-Hazard Disposal • All bio-hazard bags can be disposed of at the hospital in designated bins • All sharps containers are to be sealed using 3” tape and labeled “NuCare” • Sharps are also disposed of at the hospital

29. Bio-Hazard Bag Portable Sharps Wall Mounted Container Sharps Container

30. Practices (Con’t) • Hand washing is required after the completion of all patient care. • Hand washing is the best way to avoid infection. • No food, drink, smoking, application of cosmetics, or handling of contact lenses is permitted in any Patient Care Area. • Mouth Pipeting/Suctioning is prohibited.

31. Practices (Con’t) • Disinfecting materials are provided on the Ambulance and in the PCF. The materials are: • LpH One Step Germicidal Disinfectant in a 1:256 solution with water (always wear gloves when handling this cleaner) • Disposable paper towels (into a red bag, when done) • 5:1 Water and bleach can be substituted • Annual Training

32. Know your enemy Diseases

33. Hepatitis-B • Virus that attacks the liver • Those with HBV infection are divided into two categories. Both are equally able to infect you • Carrier- non-acute patient with virus in blood • Acute- virus in blood and is symptomatic

34. Hepatitis-B • HBV can survive outside of the body for quite some time • Up to 14 days in a dried drop of blood • Compared to HIV that dies instantly outside its environment • HBV is not airborne • You cannot “catch” HBV from casual contact • There is a vaccine to protect you from HBV • HBV is a larger risk than HIV to the healthcare provider!

35. Hepatitis-B • Each year over 12,500 Health Care workers acquire this disease as a result of their job • Each year more than 500 Health Care workers die as a result of this disease • 50 to 60% of infected individuals do not know they have the disease

36. Hepatitis-B • Begins with flu like symptoms • Smokers loose the desire to smoke • Yellow skin, eyes itching, dark urine and white colored stool • Some individuals may only have flu like symptoms or be completely asymptomatic

37. HBV Vaccine • Vaccinations available to all members at risk • Vaccine provided within three days of hire • NuCare provides the vaccine, free to you • You may decline the offer • A declination form is required if declining • Can be received at any time if initially declined (notify manager in writing) • Booster now recommended between 5-10 years

38. HBV Vaccine Facts • Vaccine is created through genetic engineering. • No live or dead vaccine is injected into you. • You cannot “catch” HBV from the vaccine • Three IM Injections • Day 1, Day 30, and Day 180 • Some side effects are • 1% will have a sore arm (like a tetanus shot), fatigue, and headache • Itchiness or bump at the injection site • Allergic Reaction- Vaccine is contraindicated if you are allergic to yeast

39. HIV/AIDS • Human Immunodeficiency Virus • HIV is the virus that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) • Those with HIV Infection may have no symptoms, some symptoms, or may have full blown AIDS • HIV destroys the body’s immune system, causing death by other diseases that the body would naturally fight off

40. HIV/AIDS • HIV cannot survive outside the body for a long period of time. When the virus contacts a dry environment, it loses the ability to infect you • HIV is not airborne and cannot infect you through everyday contact • HIV cannot survive outside the body for a long period of time. When the virus contacts a dry environment, it loses the ability to infect you • HIV is not airborne and cannot infect you through everyday contact

41. HIV/AIDS • Antibodies are formed six to twelve (6-12) weeks after infection. The AIDS test looks for these antibodies, not the virus itself • No anti-virus, no vaccine and no cure • There are a SMALL NUMBER of healthcare providers who have contracted HIV infection through their duties as compared to HBV

43. Contracting HBV and HIV • Neither of these viruses are airborne. You cannot catch them through routine contact • You can contract the virus if • You suffer a needle stick from an infected sharp (0.4% for HIV, 6-30% for HBV) • Infected material comes in contact with your broken or non-intact skin (chapped, abrased, etc.) • Infected material comes in contact with your mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth

44. Hepatitis-C • Unrelated to Hepatitis B • Viral disease • Transmitted by blood, needle stick, and sex • WILL BEGIN WITH SAME SYMPTOMS AS HEPATITIS B • Only 25 % of infected individuals will show signs or symptoms

45. Hepatitis-C • Incubation period is up to 200 days • NO VACCINE FOR PROTECTION • 4 to 8 % of infected individuals are health care workers • NO CURE AT THIS TIME

46. Tuberculosis • Airborne virus attacking respiratory system • Historically called “Consumption” • Tudors: Princess Margaret (Henry VIII’s sister) • Moulin Rouge: Kidman’s character dies of tuberculosis toward the end of the movie

47. Tuberculosis • Groups with high risk • HIV patients • Nursing home residents • Immigrants • Refugees • Homeless • Inmates

48. TB Exposure Risk • Dependant on • Time spent with the infected individual • Adequate ventilation • preventive measures used • Filter Mask • Double mask, caregiver and patient

49. TB Signs and Symptoms • Weight loss • Night sweats • Swollen lymph glands • Cough ( may be productive ) • Positive skin test

50. TB (Con’t) • INH is the drug used to prevent disease development • Multi-drug resistant TB can develop • has been identified in up to 20 states • Occurs when a patient fails to take all of their recommended drug regimen • LIFE EXPECTANCY IS ONLY 16 WEEKS AFTER CONTRACTING DISEASE