EBBA-R March 2026.pdf (56 KB)

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​Boulder Valley School District​​ ​File: EBBA-R​ ​Adopted: January 8, 2019​ ​Revised: April __, 2026​ ​Prevention of Disease/Infection Transmission​ ​(Handling Body Fluids and Substances)​

​The body fluids and substances of all persons should be considered to contain potentially​ ​infectious agents. No distinction may be made between body fluids and substances from​ ​individuals with a known disease or infection and those from asymptomatic or undiagnosed​ ​individuals. Body fluids and substances include blood, semen, drainage from scrapes and cuts,​ ​feces, urine, vomitus, respiratory secretions​​(e.g., nasal discharge)​,​​and saliva.​ ​The following infection control practices shall be followed by all​​S​s​chool​​D​d​istrict personnel in​ ​all situations involving potential contact with any body fluids and substances:​ ​1. Wear gloves when it is likely that hands will be in contact with body fluids or substances​ ​(blood, urine, feces, wound drainage, oral secretions, sputum​,​​or vomitus). When possible,​ ​wear gloves while holding bloody noses and dealing with cuts that are bleeding heavily.​ ​Gloves should be kept in emergency response kits and be readily accessible at sites where​ ​students seek assistance for bloody noses or injuries.​ ​a. If gloves are not available, the use of towels or some other clean material as a barrier​ ​may provide some protection.​ ​b. Cuts and sores on your skin should be routinely covered to avoid infection.​ ​c. When possible, have students wash off their own cuts and abrasions. After cuts are​ ​washed with soap and water, they should be covered with Band-Aids or bandages of the​ ​appropriate size. Where possible, students should be taught to hold their own bloody​ ​noses.​ ​2. When possible, pocket face masks should be used for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.​ ​3. Wash hands often and well, paying particular attention to areas around and under​ ​fingernails and between fingers.​ ​4. Clean up as soon as possible after any skin contact with any body fluid or substance.​ ​a. Wash skin with soap and water.​ ​Page​​1​​of​​3​

​b. Wash contaminated surfaces and non-disposable items with standard disinfectant.​ ​c. Wash contaminated clothing and linen in detergent with hot water.​ ​d. Contaminated tissues, paper towels and other disposable items should be placed in​ ​plastic bags and immediately discarded in external trash container.​ ​Use individual judgment in determining when barriers are needed for unpredictable situations.​ ​It is strongly recommended that barriers be used when contact with body fluids or substances is​ ​anticipated.​ ​Although HIV (human immuno-deficiency virus)/AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)​ ​and COVID-19 have​​has​​received a great deal of attention, there are other diseases more​ ​communicable​​than HIV/AIDS of which staff members also should be aware​.​​The following page​ ​includes a​A​​table listing communicable diseases and body substance sources of infection​ ​follows​.​ ​1.​ I​t is extremely difficult to be infected with HIV/AIDS. Exposure of blood to​ i​ntact skin is a highly unlikely way of being infected with HIV/AIDS.​​Other body​ ​substances (saliva, tears, urine or feces) have extremely small, if any, levels of virus.​ ​2. HIV/AIDS is transmitted by getting blood, semen or vaginal secretions into the​ ​bloodstream of a non-infected person.​ ​3. Other body substances (saliva, tears, urine or feces) have extremely small, if any,​ l​evels of virus.​ ​2.​ ​There have been no documented cases of HIV/AIDS transmitted by​ ​mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.​ ​3.​ ​COVID-19 is mostly spread by respiratory droplets released when people talk,​ ​cough, or sneeze. It is thought that the virus may spread to hands from a​ ​contaminated surface and then to the nose or mouth, causing infection.​ ​4.​ ​Personal prevention practices, such as handwashing, staying home when​ ​sick, and environmental cleaning and disinfection are encouraged to reduce the​ ​spread of COVID-19.​​¶​ ​5. HIV is easily destroyed by common disinfectants.​ ​TRANSMISSION CONCERNS-BODY SUBSTANCE SOURCES OF INFECTIOUS AGENTS​ ​Body Substance Source​

​Organism of concern​

​Transmission​

​Blood​ ​- cuts/abrasions​ ​- nose bleeds​ ​- menses​ ​- contaminated needle​

​Hepatitis B virus​ ​HIV/AIDS​ ​Cytomegalovirus​

​Bloodstream inoculation​ ​through cuts and abrasions on​ ​hands​ ​Direct blood stream​ ​inoculation​

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​*​Feces​

​Hepatitis A virus​ ​Salmonella bacteria​ ​Shigella bacteria​ ​C. difficile​

​** ​​Oral inoculation from​ ​contaminated hands​

​Common cold virus​ ​Influenza virus​ ​*** ​​Epstein-Barr virus​

​** ​​Oral inoculation from​ ​contaminated hands​

​*​Vomitus​

​Gastrointestinal viruses​ ​(e.g., Norwalk virus)​

​** ​​Oral inoculation from​ ​contaminated hands​

​*​Urine​

​*** ​​Cytomegalovirus​

​Bloodstream inoculation​ ​through cuts and abrasions on​ ​hands​

​- incontinence​

​*​Respiratory secretions​ ​- saliva​ ​- nasal discharge​

​- incontinence​ ​Semen/vaginal fluids​

​Hepatitis B virus​↵​ ​HIV/AIDS​↵​ ​Gonococcus bacteria​

​Sexual contact (intercourse)​

​*There are no reported cases of HIV/AIDS suspected of having been transmitted by these​ ​sources. Wear gloves when exposed to body secretions, especially blood, urine or feces.​¶​ ​**HAND WASHING IS VERY IMPORTANT!​¶​ ​***These agents cause mononucleosis-like illness.​ ​End of File: EBBA​

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