Blood-borne pathogens spread when an infected individual comes into contact with an uninfected individual. But what type of contact and how much contact is necessary for actual transmission to occur? The two main methods of transmission of blood-borne pathogens include sharing of hypodermic needles (eg illicit drug use) and sexual activity. In addition, one can […]

Even though there are many blood-borne pathogens, the three that account for the majority of cases include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV.  Hepatitis B The cause of Hepatitis B is the hepatitis B virus; the primary injury is inflammation of the liver- which can be acute or chronic. In the acute phase, the infection […]

All individuals who work in a clinical setting, medical laboratory, healthcare institution, or research facility may come in contact with body fluids from another person. This places them at high risk for coming into contact with bloodborne pathogens. But what are bloodborne pathogens? Blood-borne pathogens are organisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi) that can cause potentially serious […]