As a health care worker, you may be exposed to sources of infection. These may be transmitted in three ways. First, you can come into contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids. This also includes droplets from a cough or sneeze. You can come into contact with infectious materials. The last way infections are spread is through the air.

Path to improved health

You can protect yourself from infection by:

• Following the infection control guidelines in your workplace.
• Using protective gear, such as gloves, goggles, and/or masks.
• Treating all blood and body fluids as though they are infectious.
• Handling and disposing of needles and sharp instruments correctly.
• Getting immunized for necessary vaccines.

Infections and diseases can spread through certain body fluids. The main sources are blood, vomit, semen, vaginal discharge, breast milk, and pus. Internal fluids, like those from the lungs, heart, or stomach, also can transmit disease. Clear fluids, such as tears, saliva, sweat, and urine, contain little or no threat for infection. They cannot transmit infection unless mixed with blood.

For a skin or mucus splash, your risk is lower. Exceptions are if your skin has a wound, rash, or crack. Also, if the blood or fluids splash into your mouth or eyes. For a needlestick injury or cut, your risk is higher. In all cases, wash the affected area and get medical care right away.

A doctor will assess and test you for infection. They also may want to test the infected person (source).

• If the source has HIV, you may need to take preventive medicines. These should be started within hours of the incident.
• If the source is infected with hepatitis B, you will get hepatitis B immune globulin. This is if you haven’t been immunized or don’t have immunity.
• If the source has hepatitis C, you may need antiviral medicines.
• If the source has syphilis, you’ll be treated with antibiotics.

You may need follow-up or repeat testing to check for infection. This will depend on the source and the type of disease.

Things to consider

Some infections are more serious, including HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis. However, you should protect yourself against all infections and viruses. To help with this, you can get vaccines.

If you haven’t had chickenpox, you should have a blood test. It will check your immunity to varicella, the virus that causes chickenpox. Most adults are immune, even if they haven’t had chickenpox. If you aren’t immune, you should have the 2-shot varicella vaccine series. Without the vaccine, you’re at risk of getting chickenpox and spreading it to others.

In rare cases, people can get chickenpox a second time. This can happen even if you’re immune to varicella. Chickenpox is usually milder the second time. If you get it again, tell your work so you can avoid contact with patients.

A Tdap vaccine is routinely given at age 11 or 12. It protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). Pertussis is responsible for some coughs or cases of bronchitis that last longer than the usual cold. If your cold lasts more than 2 weeks, talk to your doctor. Pertussis can be life threatening to unimmunized infants. Anyone who did not receive the Tdap vaccine as a child should get it as soon as possible. Health care workers should get the Tdap booster for tetanus and diphtheria once every 10 years.

It’s important to know which patients might have tuberculosis. Those who are homeless or have immigrated from certain countries are at higher risk. They will have a chronic cough that lasts for weeks and brings up mucous or blood. They also may have fever, night sweats, or weight loss. You can catch this disease by breathing in droplets that get into the air when an infected patient coughs. Wear a protective mask if you work around patients who have tuberculosis. Infected patients also should wear masks to contain the infection. In an office setting, move them out of the waiting room. In a hospital setting, put them in isolation.

Questions to ask your doctor

• What other vaccines should I get to avoid infections at work?
• If I’m exposed to blood or body fluids in my workplace, what are the chances I will get infected?
• When and how will I know for sure if I’m infected?

Resources

National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus: Infection Control

U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Infectious Diseases

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Finding out that you are infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) can be frightening. One way to fight your fear is to learn as much as you can about the disease. Remember that HIV is manageable. It can be treated with medicines. Knowing about HIV and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) will also help you take the best care of yourself.

You can fight your worry about HIV infection with reliable information. Your friends and family may give you advice. The best information comes from your doctor or counselor, or from local, state, or national AIDS resources.

Path to improved health

The good news is that early treatment is helping many people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. It’s normal to feel sadness, anxiety, and fear when you first learn that you have tested positive for HIV. However, if you have trouble sleeping, eating, or concentrating, or if you have thoughts of suicide, tell your doctor right away.

If you’ve been told you have HIV, give yourself permission to be afraid. But don’t let this fear keep you from doing all you can to help yourself. Here are some things you can do:

• See your doctor as soon as possible after being diagnosed, even if you don’t feel sick. Your doctor will have you start taking HIV medicines right away.
• Ask your doctor how often you should have a check-up. Always keep your appointments.
• Always use a latex condom during sex.
• Help your body fight infection by not abusing alcohol and by quitting smoking.
• Eat a balanced diet. Get regular exercise. Get enough sleep.
• Find out what causes stress in your home and work life. Do whatever you can to reduce this stress.
• Don’t share needles for drugs, steroids, piercing, or tattooing.
• Get regular dental check-ups. Bleeding gums can increase your risk of infecting someone else.
• Volunteer to work for an AIDS organization. Facing your fears directly can be a good way to cope with them.

Things to consider

If you have tested positive for HIV, you must tell your past and present sexual partners. They should get tested, too. You must also tell any future sexual partners that you have tested positive for HIV. If you are now in a relationship, ask your doctor about how to explain your positive test results to your partner.

Let your doctor and dentist know that you have HIV. This will help them give you the care you need. Your privacy will be respected. Your doctor and dentist can’t refuse to treat you just because you have HIV.

Consider setting up an advance directive and medical power of attorney. Advance directives are written guidelines that tell doctors your wishes for different kinds of treatment if a time comes when you can’t make those decisions yourself.

The medical power of attorney is a legal document that names someone in your life to make decisions for you if you are seriously ill. A lawyer can draw up these documents.

Questions to ask your doctor

• If I have HIV, what are the chances that I will get AIDS?
• How did I get HIV?
• How can I prevent passing HIV to others?
• How can I avoid getting other infections?
• Do I have to tell my employer that I am HIV positive?
• Are there support groups for people with HIV?

Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: HIV/AIDS

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Resources for People Living with HIV

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