Key Terms

Acute: Refers to a disease or condition that is either short-lived or has a rapid onset, or both. An acute disease is the opposite of a chronic disease, which is long-lived or has a slow onset, or both.

Bloodborne Pathogen: Infectious microorganisms such as HBV, HCV, or HIV that live in the bloodstream and cause diseases.

Chronic: Refers to a disease or condition that is either long-lived or has a slow onset, or both. A chronic disease is the opposite of an acute disease, which is short-lived or has a rapid onset, or both.

Cirrhosis: Heavy scarring of the liver caused by long-term damage from either liver disease or chronic alcohol abuse. This condition can cause leg swelling, yellow skin, fluid buildup in the abdomen, coma, internal bleeding in the esophagus or intestines, liver cancer, and death.

OPIM: "Other potentially infectious materials" than blood, which include semen; vaginal secretions; fluids from the spinal cord; synovial fluids from joints such as knees and shoulders; pleural fluid (which surrounds the lungs); pericardial fluid (which cushions the heart); peritoneal fluid (which surrounds most of the abdominal organs); amniotic fluid (which cushions the fetus in a pregnant female); or any other fluid that could contain blood (such as saliva from dental procedures). The term OPIM also includes any unfixed organ or tissue; or any blood, cell, or organ cultures known or likely to contain HIV, HBV, or HCV.

Percutaneous Injury: Any injury in which the skin is penetrated by a sharp object, such as a needle, scalpel, or broken glass.

Sharps: Refers to needles and other sharp objects in general. This term is used throughout this course and the California bloodborne pathogens standard.

To learn more about Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens visit our Cal/OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Online Training web page.