Everyone encounters someone throughout the day, but many do not realize how many body fluids they are exposed to daily. Blood, urine, semen, vaginal secretions, and salvia are all fluids that can easily transmit diseases to others. The most common way to get a disease is by coming in contact with someone else. Protecting yourself from blood spills, contaminated needle pokes, and sexually transmitted infections are important to your health and those you care about.

It is estimated that 1 in 12 households in the United States are using a syringe for treatments of diabetes, migraines, allergies, infertility, arthritis, HIV, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, psoriasis, or other conditions. Needles and syringes can lead to infectious disease transmission through blood exposure when not disposed of properly.  Ensuring blood spills are thoroughly cleaned and sharps, such as needles, are properly disposed of is a great start to protecting your family from several potential diseases.

               Bloodborne pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, are present in blood and body fluids and can cause disease in humans. The bloodborne pathogens of primary concern are Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. You may be thinking, how can someone else’s blood harm me? Well, there are many ways these infections can travel. One way is through direct contact, as the infected blood enters your body through an open wound, mouth, or eyes. Another way is by indirect contact such as touching an object that is contaminated by the infected blood, then touching your face or a wound leading to infection. These objects could be anything such as doorknobs, public bathrooms, needles, and syringes.

               The best precaution when handling any blood or a blood-contaminated object is to assume it is infectious.  Wear gloves when cleaning it up, make sure all cuts and sores are covered up, and remove your jewelry. Another precaution is wearing more personal protective equipment such as eyewear and a gown if blood could splash at you. Remove personal protective equipment as soon as you are done cleaning and dispose of it in a biomedical container. The best precaution is always to thoroughly wash your hands after cleaning blood or caring for an infectious person. Lower the risk of getting a bloodborne disease even further within your household by using a sharps container if one of your family members uses syringes and needles regularly. This helps prevent accidental pokes when taking out the trash or throwing things away.  Also, make sure to properly disinfect equipment and surfaces that come in contact with blood by mixing 1 part bleach with 9 parts water and letting it sit on the surface for 10 minutes before wiping it away.

               If you do get poked by a needle or get someone else’s blood in an open wound or splashed in the eye there are precautions you should take to prevent infection. First, thoroughly wash the exposed area, such as a cut, face, and hands, with water immediately. If it happens at work, report it to your supervisor. Lastly, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Tell the provider about the type and amount of blood or fluid the needle was exposed to. The provider will also want to know if the needle was used on a person who has an infection. If unsure, ask about a recommended time to get tested for possible infection. The CDC recommends the following testing schedule: Hepatitis B testing: 1–2 months after exposure. Hepatitis C testing: 4–6 months after exposure (or earlier, if desired) HIV testing: administered at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Only 3% of accidental sharps pokes and blood exposure lead to infection, but it is still important to take precautions to protect yourself from a potentially lifelong disease.

               Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, syphilis, and HPV are rising throughout the United States, even in our thumb region, and are spread by direct contact with other people who have the infection.   If you contract an STI, there are treatment options, but they can also profoundly impact health. If untreated, they can lead to serious consequences including neurological and cardiovascular disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths, and increased risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

               Thankfully, there are ways to reduce the chance of getting STIs. One way is by reducing your number of sex partners can decrease your risk for STDs. It is still important that you and your partner get tested, and that you share your test results. Another way is to agree to be sexually active with only one person, who has agreed to be sexually active only with you. Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner is one of the most reliable ways to avoid STDs. Using condoms is also a great option to reduce exposure and should be used anytime one has anal, vaginal, or oral sex.

               Protecting yourself and others from all body contact infections is so important for your long-term health, as many of these infections can have long-term consequences. Preventing these infections is simple by reducing the probability of an accidental poke, thoroughly cleaning up spills, practicing safe sex techniques, and communicating openly about possible threats such as previous infections or the use of needles.