If you work in a funeral home, mortuary, or morgue, you're likely exposed to bloodborne pathogens. These viruses and bacteria can cause serious illness in humans who have direct contact with their bodily fluids (such as blood). In addition to protecting yourself from contracting these illnesses, it's also important that you know how to protect others who may come into contact with your contaminated body fluids (both living and deceased). Here's what you need to know about bloodborne pathogens in funeral homes:
These pathogens are transmitted through direct contact with infected blood or other body fluids, including semen and vaginal secretions, breast milk, and other fluids from open sores.
Bloodborne pathogen exposures can occur when you come into contact with the blood of others through cuts on your skin, splashes to mucous membranes (mouth or eyes), or bites or scratches from an infected person's nails.
Viruses & Bacteria:
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
- Syphilis, which can be transmitted by contact with infected blood or body fluids that contain syphilis organisms. The most common way for a person to get infected with syphilis is through sexual contact with someone who has it; however, it can also be transmitted from an infected pregnant woman to her unborn baby during pregnancy or delivery.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver that causes inflammation. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus, which is spread through contact with infected blood or other body fluids. The virus can be passed from mother to child at birth and spread from person to person through contact with infected blood or other body fluids.
Hepatitis B is most commonly transmitted during sex (especially among people who have multiple partners), needle sharing for intravenous drug use, tattooing or body piercing (if contaminated equipment isn't cleaned properly), exposure to blood from an infected person during medical procedures such as transfusions, organ transplants, and childbirth; sharing razors and toothbrushes with others who have hepatitis B; getting stuck by dirty needles used for illegal drugs like heroin; being bitten by an animal that has been exposed to the virus (e.g., a cat); eating food prepared by someone who has hepatitis B without knowing they have it; drinking water contaminated by sewage containing traces of human feces carrying infectious viruses such as hepatitis A virus or rotavirus (which causes diarrhea).
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a bloodborne pathogen that can be transmitted through blood or other bodily fluids. It is not curable at this time, but treatment may help you live longer and feel better.
HIV/AIDS is another serious disease that can be transmitted through blood or other bodily fluids. There is no cure for HIV/AIDS yet, but there are medications that can keep it under control so you can live as long as possible without symptoms of the disease-causing problems in your daily life
HIV/AIDS
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system. It can be transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. HIV can also be transmitted through sexual contact, sharing needles, or during childbirth.
HIV can be treated but not cured; there is no cure for AIDS. Symptoms of HIV include fatigue, fever, and weight loss or gain, joint aches or pains in your knees or elbows that do not go away when you move them around in different positions, night sweats where you sweat at night even though it's cool outside when you go to bed at night this could mean that your body temperature has risen slightly above normal levels due to having an infection such as pneumonia which tends to happen more often than not among people who have weakened immune systems due either directly or indirectly from living conditions like poverty levels being higher than average among minorities groups like blacks/African Americans living within urban.
Tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious bacterial infection that can be spread by coughing, sneezing, and talking. TB is a type of bacterium that causes symptoms such as fever, weight loss, night sweats, fatigue, and chest pain. It can also cause damage to your lungs or other organs.
Tuberculosis is spread through the air when people with TB in their lungs cough or sneeze. People who live with someone who has active tuberculosis may be at risk of getting infected if precautions are not taken to prevent exposure to airborne germs from people who have active TB disease.
Bacterial infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, Clostridium tetani, Clostridium perfringens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A strep) is a bacteria that can cause skin infections, pneumonia, and scarlet fever. It is transmitted through direct contact with infected blood or other body fluids. The most common symptom of strep throat is sore throat with redness at the back of your throat and swollen lymph nodes close to your ears, neck, and jawline. If left untreated, this illness can be very serious and lead to rheumatic fever (an infection of heart valves), joint problems such as rheumatoid arthritis, or kidney damage from glomerulonephritis (swelling).
Clostridium tetani cause tetanus which causes muscle spasms throughout the body after being exposed to an open wound or puncture wound contaminated with soil containing spores that have been released by fecal material found in soil contaminated by decaying animal carcasses such as horses or cows; gardening tools used outdoors like shovels; gardening equipment used indoors like lawnmowers--these items may also harbor these spores so it's important to clean them thoroughly before storing them away again!
Viral infections are caused by viruses. Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Bacterial infections are caused by bacteria. Clostridium tetani and Clostridium perfringens cause tetanus; Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes pneumonia.
Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver and can lead to serious health problems including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. It's transmitted through contact with infected blood or body fluids (such as semen). Hepatitis C is another virus that attacks the liver and can cause scarring of its tissue (cirrhosis), leading to liver failure or cancer. HIV/AIDS is caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which destroys CD4+ T cells--a type of white blood cell that fights off infections--and leaves people vulnerable to opportunistic infections like pneumonia or tuberculosis (TB). TB causes damage when bacteria attach themselves to healthy lung tissue; symptoms include coughing up blood while you breathe out air through your mouth (you will see this if someone has TB)
In conclusion, it's important to know the risks of working in a funeral home. If you are exposed to these pathogens, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and others from getting sick. It's also important to know what symptoms mean so that treatment can begin as soon as possible.