Hepatitis B is a highly-infectious, vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). HBV is transmitted when blood, semen, or another body fluid from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is uninfected. Adult family home owners and staff members need to be aware of the Hepatitis B virus in order to minimize exposure risks and provide proper care to residents living with the infection.

Transmission

Hepatitis B is transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected partner, sharing needles during injection drug use, exposure to blood from needlesticks or other sharps, or direct contact with blood or open sores of an infected person, or childbirth from an infected mother.

Symptoms

Hepatitis B can range from a mild, short-term, acute illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, long-term, chronic infection. The symptoms of a Hepatitis B infection include fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, joint pain, jaundice, and dark urine. HBV can live for 7+ days in dried blood and is 100 times more contagious than HIV.

Vaccine

The Hepatitis B vaccines are highly effective in preventing infection. Studies indicate that immunity persists for at least 30 years among healthy people who initiate the Hepatitis B vaccination at less than 6 months of age. The Hepatitis B vaccine is effective for 95% of adults and is administered in a series of two or three shots depending on the vaccine brand. The three-shot series occur over a 6-month period while the two-dose vaccine is administered about one month apart. All of the shots in the series are necessary to be fully protected.

Employers must make sure that the hepatitis B vaccination series is available, at no cost, to all employees who have occupational exposure.

PPE

Person protective equipment (PPE) for Hepatitis B and other bloodborne pathogens include:

• Gloves
• Eye/face protection
• Face shields or masks
• Protective clothing (gown)
• Resuscitation devices

Proper PPE should be worn whenever a staff member has contact with blood, “Other Potentially Infectious Material” OPIM, mucous membranes or non-intact skin, draws blood, inserts an IV or other vascular access procedures, or handles/touches items or surfaces contaminated with blood or OPIM. In addition, if splashes, sprays or spatters of blood or OPIM to the face, skin or regular clothes could occur, adult family home staff members are required to wear protective clothing, eye protection and face protection.

Exposure

If an adult family home staff member is exposed to blood or OPIM, they should remove all contaminated clothing and follow this Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) treatment procedure.

1. Wash needlesticks, cuts, and skin with soap and water.
2. Flush splashes to the nose and mouth with water.
3. Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or a sterile irrigant.
4. Report exposure incident to a supervisor.
5. Schedule visit to doctor as soon as possible.

Employers are required to provide Hepatitis B vaccines to exposed workers at no cost.

For more information about bloodborne pathogen prevention, exposure and risk factors, review this Washington State Department of Labor & Industries Bloodborne Pathogens Training.

This blog is part of the Adult Family Home Industry Worker Safety Awareness Training Program created by the Adult Family Home Council, Long-Term Care Foundation of Washington State and PIM Savvy. Program funding and support for this project has been provided by the state of Washington, Department of Labor & Industries, Safety & Health Investment Projects.

Resources

Hepatitis B Basics | Hepatitis B | CDC
Hepatitis B | CDC
Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens | Chapter 296-823 WAC
Blood and Body Fluid Exposure | CDC
Bloodborne Infectious Disease Risk Factors | CDC
Bloodborne pathogens | OSHA
Bloodborne Pathogens Training | WISHA, L&I