Infectious diseases

Infectious diseases are caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Some infectious diseases can be passed from person to person or from animal to person. Workers can be exposed to a number of different types of infectious diseases, including airborne, bloodborne, contact, and zoonotic diseases.

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The risks

Airborne diseases

Airborne diseases can be spread through the air when infected people cough, sneeze, or speak. A person becomes infected by breathing in air contaminated with the virus or bacteria. Some common airborne diseases include:

Chickenpox (varicella)
Pandemic influenza
Mumps
Tuberculosis

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Bloodborne diseases

Bloodborne diseases are transmitted through contact with infected blood or certain body fluids. Some common bloodborne diseases include:

HIV/Aids
Hepatitis B and C

Contact diseases

Contact diseases are transmitted through direct or indirect contact with bacteria or viruses. Direct contact can include physical contact with an infected person, or contact with blood and body fluids. Indirect contact involves touching an object or surface that has been contaminated by an infected person. Common contact diseases include:

Norovirus

Zoonotic diseases

Zoonotic diseases are caused by infectious agents that can be transmitted between animals and humans in a variety of ways. Some zoonotic diseases can be transmitted directly to humans through contact with saliva, some are airborne, and others are are transmitted through insect bites. Common zoonotic diseases include:

Avian flu
Campylobacteriosis
Hantavirus
Histoplasmosis
Rabies
West Nile virus

How to reduce the risks

If workers are at risk for infectious disease at the workplace, employers must develop and implement an exposure control plan. As a general rule, safe work practices everyone should follow include:

Getting vaccinated

Many infectious diseases are preventable through vaccination.

Washing hands frequently

Wash your hands:

When entering a patient’s room
Immediately before any aseptic procedure
Immediately after an exposure risk to body fluids (and after glove removal)
After leaving a patient’s room where the patient or equipment was touched
After touching contaminated materials or surfaces
Before eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact lenses, applying makeup, or using the toilet