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Document Name & Link to Document
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Description
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File Size /Type
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BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN |
Department
of the Army control plan- To prescribe policies,
responsibilities and procedures for implementation of the
Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan (BBPECP) to meet the
letter and intent of the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
(29 CFR 1910.1030). OSHA has enacted this standard to "reduce
occupational exposure to Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and other bloodborne pathogens".
This plan details measures WRAMC and its employees will take
to decrease the risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens
and provide appropriate treatment and counseling should an
employee be exposed to bloodborne pathogens. |
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Ethical Challenges in the Care of
Persons With Hepatitis C Infection: A Pilot Study to Enhance
Informed Consent with Veterans
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Four million Americans are currently infected with HCV. The
high response rate to combined antiviral therapy for HCV
suggests that this treatment is both cost-effective and
clinically beneficial. The patients with the strongest
clinical indications for treatment with interferon and
ribavirin are most often those who possess addictive and
psychiatric disorders that are potential barriers to
successful treatment. The ability of these patients to
provide informed consent for treatment is thus essential if
they are to take advantage of scientific and institutional
progress in the area of HCV therapy. Our early work with an
HCV informed consent assessment process designed to identify
clinician-, patient-, disease-, and treatment-specific
factors influencing informed consent can provide the basis
for educational and therapeutic interventions to maximize
patients’ decisional capacity to enter into and complete
combined HCV therapy. |
Pdf 82 kb |
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Hepatitis C Virus Screening
in the VA
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"But after two years, the laudable promise of
the VA initiative to screen and treat Hepatitis C Virus-infected veterans
remains unfulfilled. The decentralized VA health system seems
incapable of carrying out the Hepatitis C Virus program aggressively or
consistently."
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Hepatitis C in Vietnam Era Veterans |
Hepatitis C is a major problem in United States military
veterans. In several studies of Veteran’s Affairs (VA)
Medical Center patients, we find that 8-9% are positive for
hepatitis C antibodies. Some VA Medical Centers had 10-20%
of patients with hepatitis C antibodies.1,2 The highest rate
of hepatitis C is found in the Vietnam era veterans. Several
studies have been initiated to better understand the high
frequency of hepatitis C in veterans of the Vietnam
conflict. Areas of research include the demographic
characteristics, risk factors for infection and the
potential role of military service in the acquisition of
hepatitis C1. Underlying this research is the question of
what is unique about Vietnam or Vietnam-era veterans to help
explain a high prevalence of hepatitis C which was not
observed in World War II or Korean era veterans. |
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Hepatitis
C Origin Points to Possible Military Link
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Hepatitis, not Hepatitis C, was a serious medical
condition for military personnel during the Vietnam War.
Thousands of servicemen contracted the disease and the Pentagon
was determined to do something about it to resolve a drain
on combat readiness.
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Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among
U.S. Military Personnel: An Assessment Of Risks and
Screening Strategies |
For recruits enlisting in 1997, the prevalence of infection
was just 0.1% (1 per 1000 recruits). The risk of infection
for Reservists was similar to active duty personnel after
adjusting for age. The prevalence of infection in active
duty personnel who had been on duty since the Vietnam era
was actually lower (1%) than the prevalence (3%) among other
military personnel of similar age (greater than 40 years
old). Individuals retiring from the military in 1997 were on
average 45 years old and had a prevalence of infection of
1.7%. |
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Presumptive Service Connection in VBA |
Power Point Presentation |
86 kb |
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VA Program
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The Council has identified four major goals
of this campaign:- Raise awareness of hepatitis
C infection risk factors/prevalence among veterans- Motivate
veterans who may be infected with hepatitis
C virus to seek testing and as appropriate, seek treatment-
Provide credible, up-to-date hepatitis C information
and education to at-risk veterans and those receiving treatment-
To achieve the above goals through education and advocacy.
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Viral
Hepatitis amongst US Navy Personnel - 1987 by
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Six hundred and twenty-nine cases of viral hepatitis
(A, B, and NonA-NonB) were reported among a total of 768,832
United States Navy and Marine Corps personnel during 1984
and 1985 via a passive surveillance system.
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