Bloodborne pathogens are a group of microorganisms that can be transmitted to humans through contact with blood, semen, or any other bodily fluids. The presence of bloodborne pathogens can cause serious illness or death if not detected and treated in time. Some of the most common and dangerous bloodborne pathogens include Hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV/HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, and other diseases such as tetanus, rabies, and tuberculosis.
Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms that can be transmitted to humans through contact with blood, semen, or any other bodily fluids.
Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms that can be transmitted to humans through contact with blood, semen, or any other bodily fluids. The most common bloodborne pathogens include:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). These viruses infect the liver and cause inflammation called hepatitis, which may lead to liver cancer or cirrhosis (liver disease).
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This virus attacks cells in the immune system and weakens it over time, making you more susceptible to infections such as pneumonia or tuberculosis. It also increases your risk for certain types of cancer such as Kaposi sarcoma and lymphoma.
Hepatitis B and C
Hepatitis B and C are viruses that damage the liver. Hepatitis B is the most common form of viral hepatitis and is transmitted through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. Hepatitis C is the second most common form of viral hepatitis, and can also be transmitted through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids.
Hepatitis B can be transmitted from a mother to her child during birth (vertical transmission), but this only occurs when she has an active hepatitis B infection at delivery; otherwise, there is no risk for vertical transmission from mother to child during pregnancy or delivery if she was previously vaccinated against hepatitis B before pregnancy or after delivery when she would have become immune following vaccination. Additionally, there are no specific recommendations for testing pregnant women who may have been exposed but do not have clinical symptoms; however, testing should be considered if they show signs or symptoms consistent with acute infection such as fever and jaundice within 6 months after exposure occurred.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system.
- HIV attacks CD4 cells, which are a type of white blood cell that fights infection.
- The virus can be transmitted through sexual contact, blood transfusions, and needle sharing. It can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her child during pregnancy or childbirth (perinatal transmission).
- In most cases, HIV amasses in the bloodstream and spreads throughout your body over time--but it can also stay localized in certain organs like lymph nodes or testicles where it may cause inflammation without causing symptoms until years later when those sites become swollen or painful as they fill with pus-like fluid called "effusion" under pressure from accumulating excess fluid from inflamed tissue around them (lymphodema).
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause serious health problems if not treated. It's caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, which enters the body through open wounds or lesions on the skin. Symptoms of syphilis include a painless sore and a rash, but these may not appear until years after infection.
Symptoms of syphilis include:
- A painless sore at the site where you were infected (usually around your genitals or anus) that eventually goes away without treatment
- A fever (high temperature), swollen lymph nodes (glands) in your groin area, headaches, or weight loss within three months of being exposed to someone who has it
Other bloodborne pathogens include tetanus, rabies, and tuberculosis.
Other bloodborne pathogens include tetanus, rabies, and tuberculosis.
Tetanus is a bacterial infection that causes muscle spasms and stiffness. It's usually transmitted through contaminated soil, animal feces, or wounds. Tetanus can be treated with antibiotics but it's life-threatening and can cause permanent neurological damage if not treated properly. Tetanus is preventable with a vaccine that requires boosters every 10 years to maintain immunity against the disease.
Takeaway:
Bloodborne pathogens are dangerous. HIV is the most dangerous, followed by Hepatitis B and C.
Treatments for HIV and Hepatitis B and C are available, but they're not always successful. The best way to prevent these diseases is through vaccination. You can reduce your risk of contracting HIV by practicing safe sex or abstinence (depending on your age), getting tested regularly if you're at high risk for infection, avoiding sharing needles with others, and never re-using them yourself even if they were disinfected in some way first--and always using condoms during vaginal or anal intercourse with another person who may be infected with any type of bloodborne pathogen!
Conclusion
Bloodborne pathogens are a serious threat to human health, but they can be prevented. Vaccines can help prevent infections and other methods of protection include using latex gloves and condoms during sexual contact. If you have been exposed to blood or other bodily fluids that may contain bloodborne pathogens, see your doctor immediately so they can begin treatment as soon as possible!
