FACT SHEET
PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
Bloodborne pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, are present in blood and body fluids and can
cause disease in humans. The bloodborne pathogens of primary concern are hepatitis B, hepatitis C
and HIV. These and other bloodborne pathogens are spread primarily through:
■ Direct contact. Infected blood or body fluid from one person enters another person’s body at a
correct entry site, such as infected blood splashing in the eye.
■ Indirect contact. A person’s skin touches an object that contains the blood or body fluid of an
infected person, such as picking up soiled dressings contaminated with an infected person’s
blood or body fluid.
■ Respiratory droplet transmission. A person inhales droplets from an infected person, such as
through a cough or sneeze.
■ Vector-borne transmission. A person’s skin is penetrated by an infectious source, such as an
insect bite.
Follow standard precautions to help prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens and other diseases
whenever there is a risk of exposure to blood or other body fluids. These precautions require that
all blood and other body fluids be treated as if they are infectious. Standard precautions include
maintaining personal hygiene and using personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering controls,
work practice controls, and proper equipment cleaning and spill cleanup procedures.
TO PREVENT INFECTION, FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES:
■ Avoid contact with blood and other body fluids.
■ Use CPR breathing barriers, such as resuscitation masks, when giving ventilations
(rescue breaths).
■ Wear disposable gloves whenever providing care, particularly if you may come into contact
with blood or body fluids. Also wear protective coverings, such as a mask, eyewear and
a gown, if blood or other body fluids can splash.
■ Cover any cuts, scrapes or sores and remove jewelry, including rings, before wearing
disposable gloves.
■ Change gloves before providing care to a different victim.
■ Remove disposable gloves without contacting the soiled part of the gloves and dispose of
them in a proper container.
■ Thoroughly wash your hands and other areas immediately after providing care. Use
alcohol-based hand sanitizer where hand-washing facilities are not available if your hands
are not visibly soiled. When practical, wash your hands before providing care.
TO REDUCE THE RISK 0F EXPOSURE, FOLLOW THESE ENGINEERING AND WORK
PRACTICE CONTROLS:
■ Use biohazard bags to dispose of contaminated materials, such as used gloves and
bandages. Place all soiled clothing in marked plastic bags for disposal or cleaning.
Biohazard warning labels are required on any container holding contaminated materials.
■ Use sharps disposal containers to place sharps items, such as needles.
Bloodborne Pathogens Training | Online Resources | © 2011 The American National Red Cross 1
PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS
Bloodborne pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, are present in blood and body fluids and can
cause disease in humans. The bloodborne pathogens of primary concern are hepatitis B, hepatitis C
and HIV. These and other bloodborne pathogens are spread primarily through:
■ Direct contact. Infected blood or body fluid from one person enters another person’s body at a
correct entry site, such as infected blood splashing in the eye.
■ Indirect contact. A person’s skin touches an object that contains the blood or body fluid of an
infected person, such as picking up soiled dressings contaminated with an infected person’s
blood or body fluid.
■ Respiratory droplet transmission. A person inhales droplets from an infected person, such as
through a cough or sneeze.
■ Vector-borne transmission. A person’s skin is penetrated by an infectious source, such as an
insect bite.
Follow standard precautions to help prevent the spread of bloodborne pathogens and other diseases
whenever there is a risk of exposure to blood or other body fluids. These precautions require that
all blood and other body fluids be treated as if they are infectious. Standard precautions include
maintaining personal hygiene and using personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering controls,
work practice controls, and proper equipment cleaning and spill cleanup procedures.
TO PREVENT INFECTION, FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES:
■ Avoid contact with blood and other body fluids.
■ Use CPR breathing barriers, such as resuscitation masks, when giving ventilations
(rescue breaths).
■ Wear disposable gloves whenever providing care, particularly if you may come into contact
with blood or body fluids. Also wear protective coverings, such as a mask, eyewear and
a gown, if blood or other body fluids can splash.
■ Cover any cuts, scrapes or sores and remove jewelry, including rings, before wearing
disposable gloves.
■ Change gloves before providing care to a different victim.
■ Remove disposable gloves without contacting the soiled part of the gloves and dispose of
them in a proper container.
■ Thoroughly wash your hands and other areas immediately after providing care. Use
alcohol-based hand sanitizer where hand-washing facilities are not available if your hands
are not visibly soiled. When practical, wash your hands before providing care.
TO REDUCE THE RISK 0F EXPOSURE, FOLLOW THESE ENGINEERING AND WORK
PRACTICE CONTROLS:
■ Use biohazard bags to dispose of contaminated materials, such as used gloves and
bandages. Place all soiled clothing in marked plastic bags for disposal or cleaning.
Biohazard warning labels are required on any container holding contaminated materials.
■ Use sharps disposal containers to place sharps items, such as needles.
Bloodborne Pathogens Training | Online Resources | © 2011 The American National Red Cross 1
