Borne Disease and Sexually Transmitted Infections (HIV/AIDS)

Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections (STBBI)

The STBBI program focuses on prevention and education. KDC Health Community Health Nurses work with communities to facilitate access to quality screening, diagnosis, care, treatment and social support.

What is a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)?

What is sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI)? It is a sexually transmitted infection (STI); and this type of infection that can be transmitted from one person to another through sexual contact i.e. (exchange of semen, vaginal fluid, blood or other fluids). A blood borne infection is transmitted through contact with infected blood.

How to find out if you have a STBBI

There are many different types of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI). To find out if you have an STBBI, you need to be tested. Otherwise, you could spread an STBBI to a sexual partner without knowing it. There are two types of STBBIs: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and Blood-borne Infections (BBI).

STIs are infections passed from one person to another through sexual activities (oral, anal, vaginal sex or sharing of sex toys) with someone who has an STI. Examples of STIs are Chlamydia, herpes and gonorrhea.

How does someone get an STBBI?

You can get STBBI if:

• You engage in unprotected sex

• You share needles and other equipment used to inject drugs

• You had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992

• You get a tattoo or a piercing with a needle that has infected blood on it. This can happen if equipment is not cleaned properly after it is used on someone else.

Can STBBI's be treated?

Yes, most STBBIs can be treated – it depends on the bacteria or the virus. For example, STBBIs like gonorrhea and Chlamydia are easy to treat with antibiotics.

Do you have Questions about STBBIs?

Talk to the community health nurse at your health centre.

You can also talk to your primary care provider or go to your closest public health unit: http://www.immunizebc.ca/finder

The five program elements currently in place are: