Vaccination

[Leahm2]

Hi, I'm a health care worker. I obviously treat patients who are infected with Hep B, Hep C and HIV etc.. It makes no odds to me, I treat patients who aren't infected and those who may not know they are infected. Anyway the issue I have is someone has mentioned because I come into contact with bodily fluids including blood, I should vaccinate my children? I don't know if it's a risk of me possibly being infected? I am vaccinated and have a good level of immunity. Anyone know if my children should be vaccinated? Some body who works in occupational health and gave a cross infection course mentioned it to me.. I'm not sure if this is right.. I double checked and was told no? There's no need.. Also my partner who in his work comes into contact with blood.. And isn't vaccinated.. Shouldn't he be? I'm sure he should, he says no..

[StephenCastlecrag]

In my opinion, it is highly unlikely that you can cross-infect your children with HBV unless you have very poor medical or personal hygiene practice, because HBV is a blood-borne virus and generally requires blood-to-blood(wound) contact for infection. That said, however, anyone who works in a profession with possible exposure to blood and bodily fluid(police, firefighter, medical etc) should be vaccinated against HBV, beside practising the Universal Precaution (assume everyone and yourself are infected with something). Your children should also be vaccinated against HBV, not from you but others.

[Leahm2]

Thank you :) It's following a case from a dental surgery.. An instrument wasn't sterilized  properly.It went through the correct procedure but apparently debris were left on the instrument and Hep B was able to survive under the debris and also  the sterilization process of 134 degrees for 2 mins at 2.2 bar of pressure. The practice was prosecuted. I can't remember the names involved but it was a state of the art practice etc..  Because of the type of work I do, I regularly get spray from various bodily fluids including saliva and blood all over me lol

[StephenCastlecrag]

In that case, I presume you will wear a facial mask and gloves for protection.