2. Risks to healthcare workers
Contaminated sharps exposure is likely the most common mode of transmission as a proportion of reported incidents of occupational exposure to bloodborne viruses (BBVs). The transmission rates of BBVs in these incidents remain low.
The overall risks of the 3 most common BBVs being transmitted by an infected patient to a healthcare worker are difficult to estimate with any certainty. This is because it depends on:
- the clinical condition of the patient including the viral load
- the nature and site of the exposure
- the volume of infected material transferred
Someone who is receiving modern antiretroviral therapy (ART) will in most cases have undetectable levels of the HIV virus in blood. For such individuals, their risk of transmitting HIV through sexual contact is effectively reduced to zero and significantly reduced via blood. In the context of sexual transmission this is called ‘undetectable = untransmittable’ (U=U).
More information on HIV (NHS.UK).
Hepatitis B virus is the most readily transmitted virus, and HIV the least. There is an effective vaccine for hepatitis B virus.
HSE guidance for workers
There is separate guidance for workers on how they could be exposed to bloodborne viruses.
There is more guidance for protecting healthcare workers in controlling sources of bloodborne infection.
You can also find detailed guidance for health and social care services on needlestick or sharps injuries.
Guidance from other sources
More information on preventing BBV exposures in healthcare setting can be found at:
- Bloodborne viruses in healthcare workers: report exposures and reduce risks (on GOV.UK)
- Bloodborne viruses: Eye of the needle (on GOV.UK)
- Standard Infection Control Precautions Literature Review: Occupational Exposure (on scot.nhs.uk)
- Care homes: infection prevention and control (on GOV.UK)
- Emergency healthcare workers: exposure prone procedures (on GOV.UK)
- HIV for non-HIV specialists. Diagnosing the undiagnosed: A practical guide for healthcare professionals in secondary care
Transmission risk of BBVs from healthcare workers to patients
There have been recorded cases where infected healthcare workers have transmitted BBVs to patients, but these are extremely rare.
Guidance for health clearance of healthcare workers and management of those infected with BBVs such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV is available: