Policy Manual sample

MDT Home Health Care Agency, Inc. HEPATITIS C (HCV) EDUCATION Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the next emerging infectious disease epidemic to strike persons who inject Drugs intravenous HCV is transmitted through the sharing of needles and syringes. The majority of new HCV infections in the United States are associated with injection drug use and needle sticks. This situation provides for contamination to health providers via needle sticks. The antibody test for HCV has been available for less than a decade, At present there is no vaccine for HCV. Signs and Symptoms of HCV Normally, hepatitis C produces no symptoms in its earliest stages. If you do have symptoms, they will generally be mild and flu-like. They include: • Slight fatigue • Nausea or poor appetite • Muscle and joint pain • Tenderness in the area of the liver Causes of HCV Hepatitis C is contracted by coming in contact with blood contaminated with the virus. Most people with HCV become infected through: • Blood transfusions (received prior to 1992) • Injecting of drugs with contaminated needles or inhaling cocaine through contaminated straws • Contaminated needles used in tattooing or body piercing • Contaminated needles sticks • Rarely, transmitted sexually Risk Factors • Health care workers exposed to the infected blood of others • Intravenous or intranasal illegal drug use • Organ transplant before 1992 Home Health Agency. - - Personnel/Operations Policies B-94