Common Bloodborne Pathogens

At nearly every job, crime scene clean-up teams face the risk of coming into contact with bloodborne pathogens. Fortunately, these teams have special training in biohazard removal and know how to protect themselves from the risks. It is essential to use trained biohazard waste clean-up services in Orlando after trauma in your home—trying to clean up yourself leaves you vulnerable to dangerous infections. Here are some of the most common diseases found in the blood that you could be exposed to at a trauma scene.

immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is the virus that causes AIDS. It attacks the body’s immune system until it can no longer fight off infections. As the immune system declines, patients become vulnerable to pneumonia, fungal infections, intestinal disorders, and more. Although people with HIV often live much longer now than they did in the past, once a person develops AIDS, fatal infections are possible.

HBV

HBV is the hepatitis B virus. It affects the liver and can cause serious damage and even death. Jaundice, fever, abdominal pain, and nausea are all common symptoms of an HBV infection. Some people with HBV ultimately develop chronic liver infections and have a lifelong increased risk of dying of cirrhosis or liver cancer.

HCV

The hepatitis C virus, or HCV, is a very dangerous pathogen that causes potentially fatal liver damage. In the early stages, most people with HCV don’t realize they are infected because they either have no symptoms or only very mild ones. However, between 75 and 80% of people who contract HCV eventually develop chronic hepatitis, and approximately 70% of those people end up with an active liver disease. The HCV patients with active liver disease have a higher than normal risk of developing liver cancer and cirrhosis, which can be fatal.