Understanding Blood-Borne Pathogens Blood-borne pathogens are infectious microorganisms present in blood and certain body fluids that can cause serious disease in humans. The most common include: • Hepatitis B (HBV)• Hepatitis C (HCV)• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) These pathogens are transmitted when infected blood or certain body fluids enter another person’s body through broken skin, […]

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 […]

When considering bloodborne pathogens most people believe that in order to be contaminated by these pathogens they must come in contact with the infected person’s blood in some way into a bodily orifice such as the mouth or nose to become contaminated, as well. But, it is a highly mistaken misnomer of the fact that […]