In cases where crimes, accidents, and other incidents occur where blood is spilled, it is essential that the bodily fluid is cleaned up properly. This is one reason why a biohazard clean up service is often required. This type of service helps to control bloodborne pathogens. Keep reading to learn about these pathogens and how a cleanup company keeps them contained.

What Are Bloodborne Pathogens?

A bloodborne pathogen is any microorganism in the blood that causes an illness in a human. These pathogens include HIV and hepatitis. The pathogen can be a bacteria or a virus that easily spreads from one person to another through contact with bodily fluids. 

Some pathogens, like viruses, do not remain in the blood for a long time after they are released from the body. However, bacteria do tend to live a lot longer and can cause lifelong, severe, and life-threatening ailments. 

Bloodborne pathogens are not always present, but there is a significant risk when it comes to coming into contact with blood. Also, bacterial contamination can be an issue as the blood sits, becomes exposed to the air, and begins to decompose. 

How Are Bloodborne Pathogens Handled?

Blood is a cleaned up extremely carefully. In fact, biohazard cleaning crews will assume that blood is contaminated with a disease. This means that cleaning is completed so that workers, as well as the general public, are protected from possible infections. 

The process of cleaning blood to reduce infection concerns start with the blocking off of the area so others cannot come into contact with it. This may not be necessary for a residential setting, but it is required in a hospital or another area where the public may be exposed to the blood. The cleaning crew will wear gloves as well as other protective clothing like gowns and goggles. Solid matter is then removed from the blood, like broken glass.

Disposable towels are then utilized to clean up the majority of the blood and the towels are placed in a plastic garbage bag for disposal. A disinfectant is placed on the remaining spill and on anything that may have come into contact with the blood. The area is cleaned with towels and the disinfectant is applied and wiped up again. 

Once the area has been sufficiently cleaned, disposable gowns, gloves, and goggles are thrown away. The trash bag is closed and sent to a biohazard disposal site. Typically, the biohazard material is incinerated since this will completely kill any and all pathogens. To learn more, contact a company like CSI Cleaning Specialist Inc.