Blood-borne disease
A blood-borne disease is one that can be spread by contamination by blood.
The most common examples are HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and viral hemorrhagic fevers.
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.
Many blood-borne diseases can also be transmitted by other means, including high risk sexual behaviour.
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. Blood poses the greatest threat to health in a laboratory or clinical setting due to needle disposal techniques.
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. [1] [2] [3] 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 [4] [5]
Needle exchanges are an attempt to reduce the spread of blood-borne diseases in intravenous drug users.
[edit] References
- ^ Goodrich RP, et. al., “A Laboratory Comparison of Pathogen Reduction Technology Treatment and Culture of Platelet Products for Addressing Bacterial Contamination Concerns.” Transfusion 2009;49 : 1205-1216.
- ^ Ruane PH, et. al., “Photochemical Inactivation of Selected Viruses and Bacteria in Platelet Concentrates Using Riboflavin and Light.” Transfusion 2004; 44: 877-885.
- ^ Goodrich RP, et. al. “The Mirasol PRT System for Pathogen Reduction of Platelets and Plasma: An Overview of Current Status and Future Trends.” Transfusion and Apheresis Science 2006; 35 (1): 5-17.
- ^ Osselaer et al. "Universal adoption of pathogen inactivation of platelet components: impact on platelet and red blood cell component use". Transfusion 2009; 49:1412-1422.
- ^ Cazenave et al. "An active hemovigilance program characterizing the safety profile of 7,483 transfusions with plasma components prepared with amotosalen and UVA photochemical treatment". Transfusion 2010;50:1210-1219.
[edit] External links
- Selected EPA-registered Disinfectants - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (BBPS)
- Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention, from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- Antimicrobials Information - National Pesticide Information Center
- Professor Andrew Speilman, Entomologist, Harvard School of Hygiene and Public Health Freeview Malaria video by the Vega Science Trust.
- Rob Hutchinson, Entomolgoist, Mosquitoes London School of Hygiene and Tropical Diseases. Freeview video by the Vega Science Trust.
- http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/bp.html
- NIOSH Bloodborne Infectious Diseases Topic Page
