Education for BC Corrections Staff

STBBIs are a collection of infections that are usually transmitted through certain sexual activities or through blood-to-blood contact. STBBIs that are commonly tested for in corrections and how they’re relevant for your work. These STBBIs include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis A, B, and C, and HIV.

Some STBBIs are bacterial and some are viral

Bacterial STBBIs

Working in correctional facilities does not put you at risk for coming into contact with bacterial STBBIs, but testing for them is recommended for people who are incarcerated as well as for everyone in the province who is sexually active. Bacterial STBBIs:

• Are most commonly transmitted through sexual activities such as penis-vagina sex, anal sex, and oral sex
• Transmission can often be prevented with the use of barrier methods, such as condoms.
• Can be easily treated with antibiotics

Viral STBBIs

Viral STBBIs include Hepatitis A, B, and C, as well as HIV. The Hepatitis viruses directly impact the liver, whereas HIV is a virus that attacks and weakens the immune system – your body’s defence against illness.

Transmission

Some STBBIs, but not all, can be transmitted through things like: needle stick injuries, breaking up fights, responding to overdoses, contact with vomit or feces.

For HIV or hep C to be transmitted, three things are required – if one of these things are missing, there is no risk for transmission. The three things are:

1. Fluid (for hepatitis C = blood; for HIV = blood, sexual fluids, breast milk)
2. Activity (see below)
3. Route (for hepatitis C = blood-to-blood contact; for HIV = through puncture, cut, tear, tissue of rectum, vagina/cervix,                 some areas of the penis)