HEALTHY SURGEON
Occupational Risk Exposure
Blood Borne Pathogens (BBP)
Health care workers (HCWs) including physicians who have potential contact with blood and/or body fluids of patients have an occupational risk of acquiring infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The Blood-Borne Diseases Surveillance Protocol, drawn up by the OMA and OHA, is intended to provide guidance about the prevention of HBV through immunization, and the most appropriate follow-up for HCWs exposed to the blood or body fluids of potentially infected individuals. Because HBV, HCV and HIV are spread by similar means, one protocol will apply to all three diseases. Download OMA/OHA BBP Protocol
CPSO BBP Policy
Physicians are expected to take steps to safeguard their own health and that of their patients, and to report their own seropositive status to the College in accordance with the requirements of this policy. More details
CPSO: "Physicians must report if they are seropositive with respect
to HBV, HCV, and/or HIV through the completion of the
Annual Renewal Form.
Reporting, outside the context of the Annual Renewal
Form, is required when a physician learns he or she is
seropositive for HBV, HCV and/or HIV. Physicians must
make a report to the College as soon as is reasonably practical
after learning of their status. It is not acceptable for
physicians in these instances to wait to report their status
on the next Annual Renewal Form."
SHEA Guidelines for Management of Healthcare Workers Who Are Infected with HBV, HCV, and/or HIV Virus
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) emphasizes the use of appropriate infection control procedures to minimize exposure of patients or providers to blood, emphasizes that transfers of blood from patients to providers and from providers to patients should be avoided, and recommends that infected healthcare providers should not be totally prohibited from participating in patient‐care activities solely on the basis of a bloodborne pathogen infection. Download Guidline PDF
For more details:
OHA/OMA Communicable Disease Surveillance Protocols: Blood Borne Diseases: Download PDF
CMPA: Physicians with blood borne viral infections -Understanding and managing the risks - website; Download PDF
CMPA: Physician personal health information: Supporting public safety and individual privacy - website; Download PDF
CPSO Policy Statement: Blood Borne Pathogens
CPSO: Infection Control in the Physician's Office - website
CPSO: Physician Advisory Service
SHEA: www.shea-online.org