bloodborne disease, any of a group of diseases caused by pathogens such as viruses or bacteria that are carried in and spread through contact with blood. Common bloodborne diseases
include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Viral hemorrhagic fevers, such as Ebola virus
disease and Lassa fever, are other examples. Infection with bloodborne pathogens occurs through direct contact with contaminated blood or blood products. Specific routes of infection include contact with blood through needles or other sharp objects, blood transfusions with blood that has not been
screened for the presence of infectious agents, and transmission from mother to child during pregnancy or at birth. Some bloodborne pathogens can also be transmitted through contact with other bodily fluids, such as amniotic fluid,
cerebrospinal fluid, semen, and vaginal secretions. Britannica Quiz Diseases, Disorders, and More: A Medical Quiz What condition is caused by the deposition of salts of uric acid? What’s another name for breakbone fever? Find out what you know about diseases, disorders, and more. Common bloodborne diseasesHepatitis B is caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). Although some persons do not experience symptoms, others suffer jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and joint pain. Infection may become chronic, particularly in individuals who become infected in infancy; chronic infection can lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver cancer later in life. Hepatitis B can be prevented through vaccination. Hepatitis C is caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Persons at highest risk include injection drug users and persons who undergo blood transfusions with unscreened blood or blood products. Most individuals infected with HCV are asymptomatic. However, chronic hepatitis C infection can result in severe liver damage and liver cancer. Although there is no vaccine for hepatitis C, liver function and immune activity against the virus can be improved with drug treatments. HIV, the cause of AIDS, is transmitted primarily through blood. Possible routes of infection include unprotected sexual activity, the use of unsterilized needles, and transfusion of contaminated blood. In the advanced stages of HIV/AIDS, immune system failure opens the way for opportunistic infections and unusual cancers, particularly Kaposi sarcoma. There is no vaccine for AIDS, though medical treatments are available. Viral hemorrhagic fevers are caused by bloodborne viruses that damage the vascular system, resulting in extensive external or internal hemorrhaging (bleeding). Most viral hemorrhagic fevers are zoonotic, being transmitted to humans by animals such as rodents and insects. Symptoms typically include fever, fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches, loss of strength, exhaustion, and bleeding under the skin, in internal organs, and from body orifices. There are no vaccines to protect against viral hemorrhagic fevers, and treatment primarily is supportive. Infection can be prevented by avoiding contact with host species and controlling rodent and insect populations. Viral hemorrhagic fevers can be spread from human to human through physical contact; hence, the isolation of infected individuals is another means of preventing infection. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now Prevention and controlMost exposures to bloodborne disease can be prevented through the use of barrier methods (e.g., condoms) during sexual intercourse, avoidance of injection drug use, and the use of screened blood for blood transfusions. Health-care workers generally also adhere to a special set of practices, or standard precautions, to minimize the risk of infection to themselves and patients. Standard precautions to help prevent the transmission of bloodborne disease include the use of personal protective equipment (e.g., gloves, protective eyewear, and face masks), consistent hand hygiene, and the sterilization and proper disposal of needles and other sharp objects. Immunization against hepatitis B and postexposure management, such as the provision of prophylactic medication, are also recommended for health workers and others at high risk of infection. Sarah E. BoslaughThis article is about the type of disease. For the video game, see Bloodborne.
A blood-borne disease is a disease that can be spread through contamination by blood and other body fluids. Blood can contain pathogens of various types, chief among which are microorganisms, like bacteria and parasites, and non-living infectious agents such as viruses. Three blood-borne pathogens in particular, all viruses, are cited as of primary concern to health workers by the CDC-NIOSH: HIV, hepatitis B (HVB), & hepatitis C (HVC).[1] Diseases that are not usually transmitted directly by blood contact, but rather by insect or other vector, are more usefully classified as vector-borne disease, even though the causative agent can be found in blood. Vector-borne diseases include West Nile virus, zika fever and malaria. Many blood-borne diseases can also be contracted by other means, including high-risk sexual behavior or intravenous drug use. These diseases have also been identified in sports medicine.[2] Since it is difficult to determine what pathogens any given sample of blood contains, and some blood-borne diseases are lethal, standard medical practice regards all blood (and any body fluid) as potentially infectious. "Blood and body fluid precautions" are a type of infection control practice that seeks to minimize this sort of disease transmission. Occupational exposure[edit]Blood poses the greatest threat to health in a laboratory or clinical setting due to needlestick injuries (e.g., lack of proper needle disposal techniques and/or safety syringes). These risks are greatest among healthcare workers, including: nurses, surgeons, laboratory assistants, doctors, phlebotomists, and laboratory technicians.[3] These roles often require the use of syringes for blood draws or to administer medications.[citation needed] The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) prescribes 5 rules that are required for a healthcare facility to follow in order to reduce the risk of employee exposure to blood-borne pathogens. They are:
These controls, while general, serve to greatly reduce the incidence of blood-borne disease transmission in occupational settings of healthcare workers. There are 26 different viruses that have been shown to present in healthcare workers as a result of occupational exposure.[4] The most common blood-borne diseases are hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).[5] Exposure is possible through blood of an infected patient splashing onto mucous membranes; however, the greatest exposure risk was shown to occur during percutaneous injections performed for vascular access. These include blood draws, as well as catheter placement, as both typically use hollow bore needles.[3] Preventive measures for occupational exposure include standard precautions (hand washing, sharp disposal containers), as well as additional education. Advancements in the design of safety engineered devices have played a significant role in decreasing rates of occupational exposure to blood-borne disease.[5] According to the Massachusetts Sharps Injury Surveillance System, needle devices without safety features accounted for 53% of the 2010 reported sharps injuries.[6] Safer sharps devices now have engineering controls, such as a protective shield over the needle, and sharps containers that have helped to decrease this statistic. These safer alternatives are highly effective in substantially reducing injuries. For instance, almost 83% of injuries from hollow bore needles can be prevented with the use of safer sharps devices.[7] Blood transfusions[edit]Blood for blood transfusion is screened for many blood-borne diseases. Additionally, a technique that uses a combination of riboflavin and UV light to inhibit the replication of these pathogens by altering their nucleic acids can be used to treat blood components prior to their transfusion, and can reduce the risk of disease transmission.[8][9][10] A technology using the synthetic psoralen (amotosalen HCl) and UVA light (320–400 nm) has been implemented in European blood centers for the treatment of platelet and plasma components to prevent transmission of blood-borne diseases caused by bacteria, viruses and protozoa.[11][12] Needle exchange programs[edit]Needle exchange programs (NEPs) are an attempt to reduce the spread of blood-borne diseases between intravenous drug users. They often also provide addiction counseling services, infectious disease testing, and in some cases mental health care and other case management. NEPs acquired their name as they were initially places where intravenous (IV) illicit substance users were provided with clean, unused needles in exchange for their used needles. This allows for proper disposal of the needles.[13] Empirical studies confirm the benefits of NEPs.[14] NEPs can affect behaviors that result in the transmission of HIV. These behaviors include decreased sharing of used syringes, which reduces contaminated syringes from circulation and replaces them with sterile ones, among other risk reductions.[citation needed] Prevention[edit]Follow standard precautions to help prevent the spread of blood-borne pathogens and other diseases whenever there is a risk of exposure to blood or other bodily fluids. Standard precautions include maintaining personal hygiene and using personal protective equipment (PPE), engineering controls, and work practice controls among others.[15] Always avoid contact with blood and other bodily fluids. Wear disposable gloves when providing care, particularly if you may come into contact with blood or bodily fluids. Dispose of gloves properly and change gloves when providing care to a new patient. Use needles with safety devices to help prevent needlestick injury and exposure to blood-borne pathogens.[citation needed] A hierarchy of controls can help to prevent environmental and occupational exposures and subsequent diseases. These include:[citation needed]
Personal protective equipment: Protect workers with PPE such as gloves and masks to avoid transmission of blood and other bodily fluids. See also[edit]
References[edit]
External links[edit]Look up blood-borne in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
What are the only known blood borne pathogens?Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms that cause disease and are present in human blood. They include but are not limited to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV).
What is the most common blood borne pathogen?The three most common bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). This flyer is being sent to employers as an aid to understanding and complying with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.
Is HIV only bloodborne?HIV needs a living host to survive and does not last long in the open air. No environmental transmission has been recorded. However, HIV is a bloodborne pathogen, and all bloodborne pathogens should be treated as potentially dangerous.
What are 4 common bloodborne diseases?There are many different bloodborne pathogens, including malaria, syphilis, and brucellosis, and most notably Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV) and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
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