A bloodborne pathogen (BBP) is a microorganism which is found in human blood or any body fluids such as saliva or vomit. Bloodborne pathogens are contracted through things such as cuts, accidental puncture, human bites, cuts, abrasions, and patient fluids. The most critical types of bloodborne pathogens include Hepatitis B virus(HBV), Hepatitis C virus(HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Hepatitis B and C viruses both affect the liver and can lead to liver cancer. Symptoms of both viruses include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The only difference between Hepatitis C and B is that Hepatitis C is spread through blood only while Hepatitis B is spread through both blood and body fluids. Human immunodeficiency virus targets the immune system. Symptoms of HIV include fatigue, sore throat, and sore throat. HIV is also spread through blood, semen, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids or breast milk.

All healthcare workers and cleaning employees must be informed about bloodborne pathogens in order to keep themselves and others safe. This can mean a difference between life and death. There are 20 bloodborne pathogens such as malaria, syphilis, and hemorrhagic fever. However, the most common bloodborne pathogens are Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Healthcare workers who work in surgery, emergency, medicine, critical care, labor and delivery, and dialysis units are at risk of contracting bloodborne pathogens. Employees who also work in fields such as mortuary and funeral services, hospital maintenance and waste removal workers are prone to contracting any bloodborne pathogens. In order to reduce the risk of contracting any bloodborne pathogens, healthcare workers and cleaning staff must look over the exposure control plan and take universal precautions.

In order for healthcare workers and cleaning employees to reduce the risk of contracting any bloodborne pathogens they must look over the exposure control plan and take universal precautions. All healthcare workers and cleaning employees must go through  training for handling bloodborne pathogens.  The training includes incident reporting and using proper PPE equipment.The universal precaution approach involves treating all blood and body fluids as if they were infected. The universal precautions also include using gloves and disinfectant spray when cleaning up blood or handling needles. Healthcare workers and cleaning staff must also use color-coded containers when storing gloves, laundry and equipment after cleaning up any blood or body fluids from a patient. It is also important for employees to properly wash their hands after cleaning up anything involving blood or body fluid. If an employee believes they have come in contact with any bloodborne pathogens they should contact their supervisor and physician immediately.