2
Key Points
➤ This document updates the "Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of
America (SHEA) Guideline for Management of Healthcare Workers
Who Are Infected With Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C virus, and/or
Human Immunodeficiency Virus" published in 2010.
➤ Since 2010, only 5 instances of healthcare personnel (HCP)-to-patient
transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) (n = 2), hepatitis C virus (HCV)
(n = 3), or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (n = 0) have occurred,
underscoring the low risk for these events.
➤ In addition, interventions have been developed to reduce risks
for occupational exposures and injuries, rendering the healthcare
environment less risky for both patients and HCP. Effective
antiretroviral therapy can now fully suppress HIV, rendering the
person noninfectious to others, even through sexual contact.
➤ This document addresses Category III/exposure-prone procedures
and notes that institutions are encouraged to individualize their own
processes to address local circumstances, including state and local
statutes.
Definitions
Table 1. Factors Contributing to the Pathogenesis and
Transmission Risk for HBV, HCV, and HIV
1. The intrinsic transmissibility of a specific pathogen.
2. The frequency with which HCP sustain injuries that may present a risk for
transmission of bloodborne pathogens to HCP.
3. The frequency of occupational exposure events resulting in injuries that might
present a risk for bloodborne pathogen transmission from HCP to their patients.
4. The viral load in HCP living with HBV, HCV, and/or HIV.
5. The magnitude of risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens following various
types of exposure events.
