Question
Protecting yourself from bloodborne pathogens on the job is important. But you also have a role in helping members of your community understand how to minimize the risks posed by bloodborne disease. To do this, you need to find out how these diseases spread in the community—not just in the healthcare workplace.
A hand with a small cut on the palm is held up against a blurred teal background.
Your knowledge of preventing the spread of bloodborne pathogens helps protect you and your community.
There are three basic routes of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Percutaneous exposure happens through the skin, as with a needlestick. Exposure is defined as mucosal when infected fluid touches the mucous membranes, or the thin skin surfaces of the inside parts of the body. The third avenue of infection is through non-intact skin: an area with a scrape, cut, open sore, or even chapped skin.
These three routes of possible exposure occur in the healthcare workplace, and you have learned how to minimize the risks. In the community, there are also risks for exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Members of the community don’t have the same access to safety training as professional healthcare workers, so health workers can help by educating people about risks for transmission of bloodborne diseases.
Risks for Transmission of HIV, HBV, and HCV
Percutaneous
Mucosal
Non-intact skin
Other exposures
There are some exposures that are accidental and hard to predict. But certain behaviors put people at higher risk for exposure. These behaviors include sharing needles for drug use or having unprotected sex. Public education campaigns aimed at communities who are most likely to engage in risky behaviors can help slow the spread of disease. Public health efforts may include handing out free condoms to protect from sexual transmission and needle exchange or cleaning kits offered to drug users.
Fact or Fiction?
Because HIV, and to a lesser degree HBV and HCV, can be transmitted by unprotected sexual activity or illegal drug use, both controversial topics, there are many myths that have been spread about these diseases. However, it’s important to keep in mind that pathogens do not discriminate—no matter how a person may have come into contact with a bloodborne pathogen, the pathogen may cause disease. For people who are at high risk for these diseases, using safer behaviors can help to decrease the chances of getting sick.
A 3D render of the spherical HIV virus is pictured while in the blood stream, depicted in hues of red and purple.
HIV, while uncurable, is manageable with proper treatment once diagnosed..
HIV and HBV are two of many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that are passed on by having unprotected sex. Though many STIs can be cured with medicine, HIV currently has no cure. However, there are medications that can help manage the HIV infection and greatly reduce its negative effects.
HIV and other STIs can be passed on by a partner who doesn’t know they have an STI. Many infections don’t cause any symptoms for a while but can still be transmitted. Just like the standard precautions, people need to consider that any sexual partner is potentially infected, and they should use precautions to help reduce their risk. Being checked by a doctor early in an infection makes it easier to cure or manage, so people who may have been exposed should get tested.
The myths that surround these diseases can keep people from understanding the truth about how transmission occurs. Worrying about activities that do not result in pathogen transmission may cause people to ignore the actions that could put them at risk.
Myths about HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne diseases
A clean white bathroom with a white toilet and sink is pictured.
Casual Contact
You can't get HIV or hepatitis from: hugging, sneezes and coughs, sharing food, bathing, toilet seats, or sweat.
Living with HIV, HBV, or HCV
There are estimated to be about 1.1 million people living with HIV or AIDS in the United States,[1] and somewhere between 850,000 and 2.2 million have chronic hepatitis B virus.[2] Chronic hepatitis C affects about 2.4 million people in the United States. Living with chronic infections can be difficult, but with proper health care, most people can live full lives.
The first step is getting tested. Anyone who may have been exposed should be tested, as well as certain groups who are at higher risk of infection. For those who are negative for hepatitis B, getting the hepB vaccination is recommended. A certain percentage of people who get HBV or HCV have an acute—sudden and severe onset and short duration—infection, which can sometimes be cured with treatment. Once a person tests positive for HIV, HBV, or HCV, the next step is to find the right medical facility for treatment. Many advances are being made in treatment for these conditions, and there is still hope for a cure.
Living with any chronic disease can feel scary and isolating, but there are mental health resources especially for people living with chronic infections. In addition to psychologists or psychiatrists who can help people who are feeling anxious or depressed about their condition, support groups for people living with HIV or HBV can be very helpful. In addition to mental health support, people living with chronic diseases may need help in finding housing, fighting discrimination in employment, and paying for treatment. Information is available from government agencies like the CDC and HHS, as well as private organizations devoted to helping those with specific conditions.
The silhouette of a man in a wheelchair has his head in his hands while a large hand on the opposite side of the image is held out in a stop position against a background of a blue sky dotted with clouds.
Discrimination against those with illnesses or disabilities is illegal, thanks to the passing of the ADA .
Because of fears around infectious diseases like HIV and HBV, many people experience discrimination in schooling, employment, housing, or other areas if people know their infection status. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law enacted in 1990 that protects people with disabilities from discrimination in public life. Diseases that impair the immune system or any other physical function are considered disabilities for the purposes of this law. Because of the myths about these diseases, some companies or individuals may attempt to bar people with infection from participating in sports, working in certain jobs, using public facilities, and many other instances. The ADA and other laws protect people from discrimination, and there are legal resources to help those who have experienced discrimination.
HIV testing is offered for free in most places and is confidential, though anonymous results may need to be reported to the CDC to help them track the infection. Medical records are private, and there are very few reasons why anyone would ever need to disclose infection status. Employers cannot require testing for diseases, unless having the disease would impair a person’s job performance or put other people at risk. For anyone affected by HIV, HBV, or another illness, help is available from organizations to help fight any discrimination.
What legal aspects are linked to HIV/AIDS, such as testing, diagnosing, confidentiality, etc.? Explain and provide one real-life example illustrating a scenario involving both HIV/AIDS and legal parameters.
Write in 3 sentences using the text above.
A hand with a small cut on the palm is held up against a blurred teal background.
Your knowledge of preventing the spread of bloodborne pathogens helps protect you and your community.
There are three basic routes of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Percutaneous exposure happens through the skin, as with a needlestick. Exposure is defined as mucosal when infected fluid touches the mucous membranes, or the thin skin surfaces of the inside parts of the body. The third avenue of infection is through non-intact skin: an area with a scrape, cut, open sore, or even chapped skin.
These three routes of possible exposure occur in the healthcare workplace, and you have learned how to minimize the risks. In the community, there are also risks for exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Members of the community don’t have the same access to safety training as professional healthcare workers, so health workers can help by educating people about risks for transmission of bloodborne diseases.
Risks for Transmission of HIV, HBV, and HCV
Percutaneous
Mucosal
Non-intact skin
Other exposures
There are some exposures that are accidental and hard to predict. But certain behaviors put people at higher risk for exposure. These behaviors include sharing needles for drug use or having unprotected sex. Public education campaigns aimed at communities who are most likely to engage in risky behaviors can help slow the spread of disease. Public health efforts may include handing out free condoms to protect from sexual transmission and needle exchange or cleaning kits offered to drug users.
Fact or Fiction?
Because HIV, and to a lesser degree HBV and HCV, can be transmitted by unprotected sexual activity or illegal drug use, both controversial topics, there are many myths that have been spread about these diseases. However, it’s important to keep in mind that pathogens do not discriminate—no matter how a person may have come into contact with a bloodborne pathogen, the pathogen may cause disease. For people who are at high risk for these diseases, using safer behaviors can help to decrease the chances of getting sick.
A 3D render of the spherical HIV virus is pictured while in the blood stream, depicted in hues of red and purple.
HIV, while uncurable, is manageable with proper treatment once diagnosed..
HIV and HBV are two of many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that are passed on by having unprotected sex. Though many STIs can be cured with medicine, HIV currently has no cure. However, there are medications that can help manage the HIV infection and greatly reduce its negative effects.
HIV and other STIs can be passed on by a partner who doesn’t know they have an STI. Many infections don’t cause any symptoms for a while but can still be transmitted. Just like the standard precautions, people need to consider that any sexual partner is potentially infected, and they should use precautions to help reduce their risk. Being checked by a doctor early in an infection makes it easier to cure or manage, so people who may have been exposed should get tested.
The myths that surround these diseases can keep people from understanding the truth about how transmission occurs. Worrying about activities that do not result in pathogen transmission may cause people to ignore the actions that could put them at risk.
Myths about HIV, HBV, and other bloodborne diseases
A clean white bathroom with a white toilet and sink is pictured.
Casual Contact
You can't get HIV or hepatitis from: hugging, sneezes and coughs, sharing food, bathing, toilet seats, or sweat.
Living with HIV, HBV, or HCV
There are estimated to be about 1.1 million people living with HIV or AIDS in the United States,[1] and somewhere between 850,000 and 2.2 million have chronic hepatitis B virus.[2] Chronic hepatitis C affects about 2.4 million people in the United States. Living with chronic infections can be difficult, but with proper health care, most people can live full lives.
The first step is getting tested. Anyone who may have been exposed should be tested, as well as certain groups who are at higher risk of infection. For those who are negative for hepatitis B, getting the hepB vaccination is recommended. A certain percentage of people who get HBV or HCV have an acute—sudden and severe onset and short duration—infection, which can sometimes be cured with treatment. Once a person tests positive for HIV, HBV, or HCV, the next step is to find the right medical facility for treatment. Many advances are being made in treatment for these conditions, and there is still hope for a cure.
Living with any chronic disease can feel scary and isolating, but there are mental health resources especially for people living with chronic infections. In addition to psychologists or psychiatrists who can help people who are feeling anxious or depressed about their condition, support groups for people living with HIV or HBV can be very helpful. In addition to mental health support, people living with chronic diseases may need help in finding housing, fighting discrimination in employment, and paying for treatment. Information is available from government agencies like the CDC and HHS, as well as private organizations devoted to helping those with specific conditions.
The silhouette of a man in a wheelchair has his head in his hands while a large hand on the opposite side of the image is held out in a stop position against a background of a blue sky dotted with clouds.
Discrimination against those with illnesses or disabilities is illegal, thanks to the passing of the ADA .
Because of fears around infectious diseases like HIV and HBV, many people experience discrimination in schooling, employment, housing, or other areas if people know their infection status. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law enacted in 1990 that protects people with disabilities from discrimination in public life. Diseases that impair the immune system or any other physical function are considered disabilities for the purposes of this law. Because of the myths about these diseases, some companies or individuals may attempt to bar people with infection from participating in sports, working in certain jobs, using public facilities, and many other instances. The ADA and other laws protect people from discrimination, and there are legal resources to help those who have experienced discrimination.
HIV testing is offered for free in most places and is confidential, though anonymous results may need to be reported to the CDC to help them track the infection. Medical records are private, and there are very few reasons why anyone would ever need to disclose infection status. Employers cannot require testing for diseases, unless having the disease would impair a person’s job performance or put other people at risk. For anyone affected by HIV, HBV, or another illness, help is available from organizations to help fight any discrimination.
What legal aspects are linked to HIV/AIDS, such as testing, diagnosing, confidentiality, etc.? Explain and provide one real-life example illustrating a scenario involving both HIV/AIDS and legal parameters.
Write in 3 sentences using the text above.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Legal aspects linked to HIV/AIDS include confidentiality of medical records, the protection against discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the provision that employers cannot require testing unless it affects job performance or poses a risk to others. For example, if an employee tests positive for HIV and their employer attempts to terminate their employment solely based on their infection status, the employee may have grounds for a discrimination lawsuit under the ADA. Additionally, HIV testing is typically confidential, with certain anonymous results needing to be reported to the CDC to monitor the infection's spread, emphasizing the importance of respecting individuals' privacy.