Blood-borne Pathogens

According to OSHA, blood-borne pathogens are infectious microorganisms present in blood that can cause disease in humans. Although blood-borne pathogens are primarily transmitted through infected blood, they can also be transferred through other human bodily fluids, such as semen and vaginal secretions. Blood-borne pathogens include but are not limited to the following:

• Hepatitis viruses
• Syphilis
• Malaria
• Brucellosis
• Viral hemorrhagic fever
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Some of these infectious diseases may circulate in the blood for a prolonged period before manifesting physically. All of them, however, are very dangerous and even potentially fatal. In the next few slides, we will take a deeper look at the three major blood-borne pathogens: the hepatitis viruses (B and C) and HIV/AIDS.

Blood-borne pathogens should be of special concern for any employer associated with the healthcare industry, but may present a hazard in other workplaces as well.

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