Guidance

Bloodborne viruses in healthcare workers: report exposures and reduce risks

Monitoring significant occupational exposures to HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C in healthcare workers, and advising on avoiding injuries.

Exposure risks to healthcare workers

Healthcare workers are potentially exposed to bloodborne viruses (BBVs) while they work via:

  • percutaneous routes, where a sharp object cuts or penetrates the skin
  • mucocutaneous routes, which include contamination of the nose, eyes, broken skin or mouth

Healthcare workers include:

  • clinical staff who have regular clinical contact with patients
  • laboratory staff who have direct contact with potentially infectious clinical specimens
  • non-clinical support staff who may have contact with patients, but not usually of a prolonged or close nature

The risk of a BBV being transmitted depends on:

  • the viral load in the infected source patient
  • the depth of the injury
  • whether the procedure involved placing a needle in a patient’s vein or artery

Significant exposures

A significant exposure is a percutaneous or mucocutaneous exposure to blood or other body fluids from a source patient who is infected with:

  • HIV
  • hepatitis B surface antigen positive (HBsAg positive)
  • hepatitis C

Data collection

Data collection is temporarily suspended whilst the Significant Occupational Exposures surveillance system is under review.

Submit an exposure report: voluntary and confidential

Data collection is temporarily suspended whilst the Significant Occupational Exposures surveillance system is under review.

Epidemiology

Eye of the needle is the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) report on significant occupational exposures to bloodborne viruses in healthcare workers: it includes a slide set on significant occupational exposures.

HIV

HIV: surveillance, data and management

UK guideline for the use of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis 2021, British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH)

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B: guidance data and analysis

See Immunisation against infectious diseases: the green book on vaccination against hepatitis B and immunisation of healthcare and laboratory staff.

Hepatitis C

Guidance on the investigation and management of occupational exposure to hepatitis C, Communicable Disease and Public Health (CDPH) 1999

Management of bloodborne viruses in healthcare workers

UK Advisory Panel for healthcare workers living with bloodborne viruses gives advice about the transmission and management of BBVs in healthcare workers and keeps a confidential register of infected workers.

Good practice guidelines for renal dialysis/transplantation units: prevention and control of blood-borne virus infection, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), September 2002

Guidance for clinical healthcare workers: protection against infection with bloodborne viruses, DHSC March 1998

RIDDOR: Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013, Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Medical and dental students: health clearance for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and tuberculosis, Medical Schools Council 2008

Updates to this page

Published 5 December 2012
Last updated 7 October 2024 + show all updates
  1. Removed links to guidance that are no longer in use.

  2. Updated guidance for data collection and submitting an exposure report to reflect the current ongoing review of the Significant Occupational Exposures surveillance system.

  3. First published.

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