AIDS/HIV DISEASE
Summary
AIDS:
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS, is a disease caused by
infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The virus destroys
the immune system leaving people with AIDS unable to fight off other
diseases.
How AIDS is spread: AIDS is spread when HIV-infected blood, semen, vaginal/cervical
fluids, or other body fluids that contain blood pass into another
person's body. AIDS is most often spread through unprotected sexual
activity with an infected person or by drug users who share contaminated
needles.
Who is at risk:
Health care and any other workers that are stuck by needles or cut with
contaminated sharp devices, or have routine exposure to blood or body
fluids.
Prevention: Using
syringes and other sharps that are designed to prevent needlesticks and
other injuries. Treating all blood and body fluids as infectious
(universal precautions). Wearing gloves and other protective equipment to
avoid contact with all blood and body fluids that may contain blood.
Laws: OSHA's
Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1919.1030) is on OSHA's web
site at: http://www.osha-slc.gov/OshStd_data/1910_1030.html. The Needlestick
Safety and Prevention Act passed in 2000 amended OSHA's standard to
require the use of safety needles, more accurate recording of
needlesticks, and involvement of workers in the selection of safer
equipment. Many state needlestick prevention laws have been passed.
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WHAT IS AIDS AND HIV?
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS, is a
disease that is caused by a virus. The virus that causes AIDS is Human
Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV). HIV attacks the immune system, which is the
body's natural defense against infections. People with AIDS become ill when
the immune system is too weak (immunocompromised) to fight off other
infections. More than 450,000 people with AIDS have died in the United
States. The estimated number of people infected with HIV in the United
States as of the end of 2000 is between 750,000 and one million.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS AND HEALTH EFFECTS?
"HIV-positive" refers to people that are
infected with HIV. There are generally no symptoms of HIV infection. Once
the immune system becomes damaged, the individual is likely to experience
weight loss, persistent low-grade fever, night sweats and flu-like
symptoms. As the individual's immune/defense system becomes less able to ward
off diseases, the infected person will likely come down with pneumonias,
intestinal disorders, and fungal infections. These so-called
"opportunistic infections" can be treated with medication. An
HIV-positive person is given a diagnosis of "AIDS" after developing
an opportunistic infection.
HOW IS THE DISEASE SPREAD?
HIV is a bloodborne disease. This means that HIV
lives in blood and it can also live in any body fluid that contains blood.
These include semen from men, and all vaginal/cervical fluids from women.
The virus is also found in internal body fluids that surround the heart,
the lungs, and bone joints (like the shoulder and elbows), as well as
spinal fluid. HIV is NOT normally found in urine, feces or saliva. However,
because of injury or illness, some of these substances may be contaminated
with blood.
HIV is spread when infected blood, semen,
vaginal/cervical fluid or other infectious materials pass into another
person's body. The virus is most often spread through unprotected sexual
activity with an infected man or woman or by drug users sharing
contaminated needles.
WHO IS AT RISK?
The workers with the greatest risk of becoming
infected at work are those with jobs that involve routine exposure to blood
and other body fluids. Health care and other workers can be exposed to HIV
from needlesticks and cuts and nicks caused by sharp objects. Infection can
also occur if workers have contact with blood or infectious body fluids
through broken, cut or torn skin. There is a risk of infection if workers
are splashed with blood or other body fluids that make contact with
naturally wet skin in the eyes, nose, or mouth. Corrections staff, law
enforcement, and public safety workers such as emergency medical personnel
are at risk through exposure to blood or fluids infected with blood.
IS THERE A TEST TO KNOW IF A PERSON IS INFECTED?
The most common method to find infection is a
blood test known as ELISA. A major problem with the ELISA test is that it
can take several weeks or months after infection before the test can detect
HIV infection. The period from when someone becomes infected and actually
has a positive blood test (seroconversion) is called the "window
period." During the window period a person will have a negative test
result even though they have the virus and can infect others.
HOW CAN THE SPREAD OF HIV BE PREVENTED?
Preventing infection depends on avoiding contact
with blood and other fluids that might contain HIV. "Universal
precautions" (also known as "standard precautions") means
treating everybody's blood and body fluids as if they were infected.
Needlesticks can be prevented by using needleless
systems, retractable syringes and other devices that have built-in safety
features. "Barrier protection" must be used to shield all
naturally wet skin (mouth, nose, eyes, etc.) and all broken, cut or torn
skin. The barrier must be leakproof so that infected blood or other fluids
cannot pass through it. Latex rubber, other heavy rubbers, materials with
certain types of vinyl, and other plastics are good barrier materials.
Latex rubber gloves shield the hands by covering any tiny cuts, hangnails,
and cracked dry skin that might provide an entry for the virus. Masks,
goggles and face shields cover the naturally wet skin in the eyes, nose and
mouth from splashes of blood or other infected materials.
WARNING: Many workers are allergic
to latex and need to have gloves made of other materials that also provide
effective barrier protection.
IS THERE A CURE OR TREATMENT FOR AIDS?
There is no vaccine to prevent HIV infection at
this time. In the last several years there has been substantial progress
using drugs to treat AIDS-related diseases. There are also medications that
have been used to interfere with the HIV/AIDS virus itself. For some
people, these medications can slow down the effects of the virus and allow
the immune system to partially restore itself.
After an exposure to blood or other potentially
infectious material, it is critical that the exposed worker be promptly
evaluated by a competent medical professional. The United States Public
Health Service issued treatment guidelines in 1998 for the prevention of
HIV infection after exposure. The medications should be taken within 2
hours after an exposure.
WHAT LAWS EXIST TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM AIDS?
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR
1910.1030)
In 1986, AFSCME was the first union to request
that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issue a
regulation to protect workers from occupational exposure to bloodborne
diseases. OSHA issued the "Bloodborne Pathogens Standard" in
1991. The standard requires that employers:
- Have
an exposure control plan to identify workers at risk.
- Provide
safety needles and puncture proof containers for used sharps.
- Ensure
that universal precautions are practiced.
- Provide
gloves, masks, and other protective equipment.
- Provide
prompt evaluation and treatment to workers who have a needlestick or
other exposure to blood.
- Train
workers each year on bloodborne diseases.
Needlestick
Safety and Prevention Act
The
Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act passed in 2000 amended the OSHA
bloodborne pathogens standard to include stronger requirements to provide
safety needles, more accurate recording of needlesticks, and involving
workers in the selection of equipment and work practices to prevent
needlesticks and other exposures to blood.
January 2001
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