PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Healthcare providers are at risk for contracting serious infectious diseases.
Although the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is often
the most feared, the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus
(HCV) are actually much more contagious than HIV, because a
smaller inoculum can cause infection.
Healthcare workers who are inexperienced at technical procedures
and find themselves having to treat open wounds and perform invasive
procedures are especially at risk for two important reasons. First,
treatment of an open wound almost always necessitates exposure to
blood and body fluids. Blood and body fluids represent the primary
mode of transmission of these contagious agents. Second, the treatment
of open wounds and the performance of even simple procedures
(for example, suturing) involves the use of sharp instruments.
Inexperience on the part of the healthcare provider is a major risk
factor contributing to an accidental needlestick or other traumatic
injury during such procedures.