Blood-borne disease

A blood-borne disease is one that can be spread by contamination by blood.

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The most common examples are HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

Related Topics:
HIV - Hepatitis B - Hepatitis C

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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 and malaria.

Related Topics:
West Nile virus - Malaria

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Many blood-borne diseases can also be transmitted by other means.

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Since it is difficult to determine what pathogens any given blood contains, and some blood-borne diseases are lethal, standard medical practice regards all blood (and any body fluid) as potentially infective. Blood and Body Fluid precautions are a type of infection control practice that seeks to minimize this sort of disease transmission.

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Blood for blood transfusion is screened for many blood-borne diseases.

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Needle exchanges are an attempt to reduce the spread of blood-borne diseases in intravenous drug users.

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See also:

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• blood test
• sharps bin
• needlestick injury
 
Blood-borne disease: External links ►