(04/22/09)
AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome – This virus attacks a person’s immune system and reduces the ability to fight other diseases. AIDS is the final stage of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection.
Bloodborne Pathogen: Pathogenic microorganisms present in human blood that cause disease. These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HBC), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Body Fluids: Body fluids include but are not limited to blood, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk, amniotic fluid, urine, saliva, vomit and stool.
Health and Wellness Coordinator: The MPD’s Health and Wellness Coordinator is the designated point of contact for communications between Hennepin County Medical Center’s (or other clinic/local hospital) Infection Control Unit and the MPD.
HBV: Hepatitis B Virus – A viral infection that can result in jaundice, cirrhosis, and cancer of the liver. The virus causes HBV and may be found in blood, urine, semen, vaginal secretions and saliva. It may be transmitted by direct contact with infected persons and through needle sticks or sharps exposures.
HCV: Hepatitis C Virus – A viral infection that can result in chronic infection, cirrhosis and liver disease. Infection occurs when blood from an infected person enters the body of a person who is not infected. HCV is spread though sharing needles and through needle sticks or sharps exposures.
HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus – HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). HIV may be transmitted from one person to another primarily through sexual contact or through the sharing of intravenous drug needles. It may also be transmitted by coming into direct contact with an infected person; i.e. an officer with a cut or sore on their hand gets blood on that hand while rendering first aid.
Influenza: Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness and can lead to death. Influenza is transmitted from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. It may also be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or an object and then touches their own mouth or nose (or someone else’s mouth or nose) before washing their hands.
Infected adults infect others a day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than seven days. Symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body.
Meningitis: An inflammation of the membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis may be contracted through direct contact with an infected person’s respiratory secretion.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Personal protective equipment is specialized clothing or equipment used by workers to protect themselves from direct exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. It includes, but is not limited to, protective disposable gloves, masks, goggles, boots, gowns and resuscitation masks.
Significant Exposure: Having sustained a contact which carries a potential for a transmission of bloodborne pathogens by one or more of the following means:
- A skin puncture by a needle or sharp object that has had contact with blood or body fluid from another person;
- Blood or bodily fluids of another person in contact with the mucus membranes or eyes;
- Any contamination of open skin (cuts, abrasions, blisters, open dermatitis) by blood or body fluids, or bites that break the skin;
- Blood or blood containing fluids in contact with skin longer than 5 minutes;
Note: Fluids such as urine, saliva, vomit and stool are considered significant only when they contain visible blood.
Significant exposure to diseases communicable by airborne transmission (including tuberculosis, chicken pox, measles, and pertussis) will be confirmed and follow-up will be determined with the help of Public Health.
Source Individual (SI): An individual, living or dead, whose blood, tissue, or potentially infectious body fluids may be a source of bloodborne pathogen exposure to another person. Examples include, but are not limited to, a victim of an accident, injury or illness, or a deceased person.
Tuberculosis: Bacterial disease causing swelling and lesions in the tissue of the lung. The most common means of exposure is by inhaling airborne particles from the cough of an infected person. Transmission may occur after being in a non-ventilated area for an extended period of time with an infected person. In rare cases, this bacterial disease can be transmitted through the saliva, urine, blood and in some cases, other body fluids of infected persons.
Universal Precautions: Precautions designed for infection control. Under Universal Precautions, blood and certain body fluids of all individuals are considered potentially infectious for HIV, HBV and other blood borne pathogens. Universal Precautions must be posted in a central area at all precincts and division locations.
Definitions
Refer to the Commonly Used Terms page for general definitions.