pathogens are killed before you actually begin cleaning or wiping the material up. By covering the spill with paper towels or rags, you decrease the chances of causing a splash when you pour the bleach on it. ● If you are decontaminating equipment or other objects, you should leave the disinfectant in place for at least 10 minutes before continuing the cleaning process. ● Of course, any materials you use to clean up a spill of blood or potentially infectious materials must be decontaminated immediately, as well. This would include mops, sponges, reusable gloves, buckets, pails, etc.
Decontamination should be accomplished by using: ● A solution of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (household bleach/ Clorox) diluted between 1:10 and 1:100 with water. The standard recommendation is to use at least a quarter cup of bleach per one gallon of water. ● Lysol or some other EPA-registered tuberculocidal disinfectant. Check the label of all disinfectants to make sure they meet this requirement. ● If you are cleaning up a spill of blood, you can carefully cover the spill with paper towels or rags, and leave it for at least 10 minutes. This will help ensure that any bloodborne HBV ● What symptoms do I have if I am suffering from hepatitis B infection? Many people with HBV do not have any symptoms and feel perfectly well. Occasionally, the hepatitis B infection may become active and make the patient feel ill with nausea, have a loss of appetite, and become jaundiced. ● What kind of outlook can I expect if I have a hepatitis B infection? Many patients with the hepatitis B infection can expect to lead a full and normal life. It is most important to regard yourself as a normal individual who happens to be infected with hepatitis B. However, it is important to take precautions HIV ● What will the AIDS test tell me? A positive result indicates the presence of antibodies to HIV, which has been found in people with AIDS. ● Does a negative test mean that I am not infected? Unfortunately, no. Although the test is reliable, there is a “window”- some say it’s six to twelve weeks, some say longer-when you could be developing the antibody, but the test will still be negative. That’s why you need to be retested at six to twelve weeks and again in 6 months. If you test negative, but still carry HIV, it is still possible to transmit the virus. Counseling will be provided when you receive your test results whether they are negative or positive. ● What happens if I test HIV positive? Currently, there is no known therapy to reverse antibody status. If an employee tests HIV positive, we recommend
COMMON QUESTIONS
not to spread the disease and to get medical checkups regularly. ● Can I get hepatitis from the vaccine? No. The hepatitis vaccine is a safe and highly purified vaccine. It does not contain any blood products or living or dead viruses. ● What should be done if the second or third vaccine dose is delayed? If the doses are delayed for less than one year, the remaining doses can be resumed to complete the vaccination without the need to restart the vaccination series. If the lapsed doses are more than one year apart, extra doses or restarting of the series may be required for high risk individuals. ongoing medical monitoring and possible antiretroviral (contains RNA for protein productions) drugs. ● What is the prognosis? Research indicates that HIV - positive individuals will eventually develop AIDS. Currently, there is no treatment for AIDS and it is generally believed to be eventually fatal. As discussed previously, there is a vaccine for hepatitis B which is available to all employees at risk. ● What HIV symptoms should I watch for? Almost half of the people who contract HIV experience a flu-like illness six to twelve weeks after exposure. Employees who experience an exposure incident should report any illness that feels like the flu or mononucleosis, especially if it is accompanied by fever, rash, or swollen glands. ● Will my employer know the results of my test? No. The health care professional will give the results of your tests to you only. All records, including test results, relating to an exposure incident are Strictly Confidential .
PRECAUTIONS
○ Use latex condoms from start to finish, even if your partner is HIV-positive. Job situations which may result in exposure include:
The following precautions should be taken by anyone who has had an exposure incident so that others are not exposed. ● Inform sexual or needle-sharing partners so they can be tested for the virus. ● Inform physicians and other health care givers so they can protect themselves. ● Don’t give any blood, tissue, organs, or semen. ● Remove the organ donor designation from your driver’s license. ● Hold off on getting pregnant until your health care provider says it is okay. ● If you are pregnant, get counseling. ● Don’t breast-feed. ● Be careful not to expose others to your blood or bodily fluids. ● Don’t share personal items such as toothbrushes, razors, etc. ● Use a bleach solution of 1:10, 70% isopropyl alcohol or other EPA-approved germicide to clean up any spills of blood. ● Refrain from sexual activity, or at least take the following precautions: ○ Limit the number of partners.
● Job duties that bring you into contact with needles or other sharp objects such as glass that might be contaminated with infected blood. ● Providing emergency first-aid assistance to coworkers. Discuss with the class other circumstances in which exposure is possible It is important that you use universal precautions to prevent becoming infected by contaminated blood. Universal precautions means
that all blood and body fluids are considered a potentially infectious.
Page 13
Book Code: CGA0523
EliteLearning.com/Cosmetology
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