PERITONEAL COMPETENCY EXAM STUDY GUIDE

Infection Control 1. What is Hepatitis? Inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. The fecal-oral route spreads Hepatitis A. Other viruses, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, are transmitted via blood- borne exposure. In th ...

Infection Control 1. What is Hepatitis? Inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. The fecal-oral route spreads Hepatitis A. Other viruses, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, are transmitted via blood- borne exposure. In the dialysis setting, Hepatitis B and C are transmitted through either an exposure to the blood or body fluids of an infected person, through the mouth, eyes or nose (mucous membranes) or from an exposure to non-intact skin, or from a sharps injury. 2. How contagious is Hepatitis B or HBV? Hepatitis B is considered to be very contagious because it can live in the environment and remain viable on surfaces for up to seven days. The prevalence of HBV has decreased due to the availability and effectiveness of the HBV vaccination series. 3. Is Hepatitis C or HCV virus as contagious as Hepatitis B? No it is not. It is not known to survive for very long outside of the body. HCV is the most prevalent type of hepatitis that is found in the dialysis setting today. There is currently no vaccine or an effective treatment available for people infected with Hepatitis C. Standard (universal) precautions and wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) provides adequate protection against HCV. 4. What is Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV? HIV is also a blood-borne pathogen. Standard precautions and wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) provide adequate protection from HIV. The HIV virus does not survive for very long outside of the body and is not easily transmitted; however, recent studies have shown that PD effluent may be a storehouse for HIV similar to HBV. It has been documented that HIV can replicate and survive outside of the body for up to seven days. Studies have concluded that HIV could be acquired and should be considered infectious for up to 48 hours.