Bloodborne Pathogen Course

Chapter 6: Cleaning Exposed Areas

It’s crucial that you clean up any blood or OPIM to reduce the chance of exposure.

To clean an infected area, you must:

1. Put on the appropriate personal protective equipment
2. Use absorbent towels to wipe up blood or blood-containing materials
3. Remove any broken sharps with forceps/tongs/dust pan (do not use bare hands), and place in sharps waste container
4. Spray disinfectant on contaminated area and let it sit for a few minutes
5. Dry sprayed area with absorbent towels
6. Dispose of cleaning materials and PPE in designated waste containers

OSHA defines appropriate disinfectants as:

1. EPA-registered disinfectants and disinfectants that are labeled to be effective against HIV and HBV;
2. diluted bleach solutions (one fourth cup of household bleach to a gallon of water);
3. and high-level disinfectants cleared by the FDA