How to protect yourself after body fluid exposure

An accidental exposure to blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM) such as cerebrospinal or pleural fluid can be a life changing experience. Among the bloodborne and OPIM pathogens are HIV, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) exists for HBV and HIV, but not for HCV, which is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States; approximately 3.2 million persons are chronically infected. Fortunately, however, exposure to blood or OPIM usually doesn't translate into disease transmission. In this article, we'll discuss how you can minimize the risk of disease transmission if you or a coworker is accidentally exposed to blood or another potentially infectious body fluid. But first, let's review some key definitions.