Final answer:
Exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials primarily happens through contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects. Health-care workers face significant risk and must follow protocols to prevent transmission of diseases like hepatitis B. Post-exposure treatments are essential when exposure occurs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials can occur through several routes. Health-care workers are at a particularly high risk for encountering these hazards. Contact can happen via needlestick injuries, cuts from other sharp objects, contact with broken skin such as from eczema or psoriasis, or mucous membranes with infected blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated equipment. Situations like providing care or treatment to patients, handling laboratory samples, or performing medical procedures can all present risks. Additionally, those with conditions that weaken the immune system like HIV or malaria are more susceptible to infections from these exposures.
To prevent transmission of viruses like HBV, it is crucial to follow safety protocols which include wearing gloves, washing hands and exposed skin with soap and water, disinfecting surfaces with a solution of 10% bleach, and using disposable syringes. Post-exposure measures like hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and vaccination are crucial in managing occupational exposures. Beyond healthcare settings, exposure to pathogens may occur in everyday life through contact with contaminated objects or food, as well as personal activities like sexual contact, IV drug use, or from accidents leading to open wounds.