Occupational Exposure to Communicable Diseases SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY (619)

Communicable Diseases Communicable Disease Communicable Disease Transmitted from one person to another Transmitted from one person to another Transmitted from one species to another Transmitted from one species to another Spreads through contact with Spreads through contact with Blood or other infectious bodily fluids Blood or other infectious bodily fluids Nasal or sputum discharge Nasal or sputum discharge Objects that an infected person came into contact with Objects that an infected person came into contact with Vectors Vectors

Communicable Diseases Vector transmitted diseases Vector transmitted diseases West Nile Virus – mosquitoes, birds West Nile Virus – mosquitoes, birds Scabies – microscopic mites Scabies – microscopic mites Airborne Transmitted Disease Airborne Transmitted Disease Tuberculosis Tuberculosis Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Dermal Contact Dermal Contact Community MRSA Community MRSA Flesh Eating Bacteria Flesh Eating Bacteria

West Nile Virus (Vector-borne Disease) Transmission Transmission Through bite by mosquito Through bite by mosquito Virus transmitted from infected bird to mosquito Virus transmitted from infected bird to mosquito Symptoms Symptoms 80% - no symptoms 80% - no symptoms 20% - flu-like symptoms 20% - flu-like symptoms Occupational Exposure Occupational Exposure Through mosquito bites Through mosquito bites Contact with infected persons blood or other potentially infectious material Contact with infected persons blood or other potentially infectious material Handling of dead birds of a certain species Handling of dead birds of a certain species Treatment Treatment No proven treatment No proven treatment Hospital care with intravenous fluids and respiratory assistance Hospital care with intravenous fluids and respiratory assistance Reporting & Assessment of Dead Birds Reporting & Assessment of Dead Birds

Scabies (Vector-borne Disease) Transmission Transmission Transfer of mites (Sarcopties scabei) from one person to another, but can also be spread through bedding, padded seats Transfer of mites (Sarcopties scabei) from one person to another, but can also be spread through bedding, padded seats Contact must be prolonged Contact must be prolonged Symptoms Symptoms Mites burrow into skin, causing dermal irritation Mites burrow into skin, causing dermal irritation Pimple-like irritations on webbing of fingers, elbows, shoulder blades Pimple-like irritations on webbing of fingers, elbows, shoulder blades Intense itching at night Intense itching at night Develop sores from scratching Develop sores from scratching Treatment Treatment Medicated lotions Medicated lotions Wash bedding/clothes in hot water and dry with hot air Wash bedding/clothes in hot water and dry with hot air

Tuberculosis (Airborne Disease) Transmission Transmission Spreads from infected person to non-infected person through sputum droplets in the air Spreads from infected person to non-infected person through sputum droplets in the air Sneezing, speaking, coughing Sneezing, speaking, coughing Contact must be prolonged; Hours of exposure to droplets Contact must be prolonged; Hours of exposure to droplets Symptoms Symptoms Chest pain, fever, coughing up blood, weakness Chest pain, fever, coughing up blood, weakness Latent TB Infection vs TB Disease Latent TB Infection vs TB Disease Latent – TB infection with no symptoms, cannot spread to others Latent – TB infection with no symptoms, cannot spread to others TB Disease – symptomatic for TB, capable of spreading the disease TB Disease – symptomatic for TB, capable of spreading the disease Treatment Treatment Mantoux tuberculin skin test, chest X-ray if test if positive Mantoux tuberculin skin test, chest X-ray if test if positive Drug treatment for 6-12 months Drug treatment for 6-12 months Potential for Drug Resistant TB Potential for Drug Resistant TB

Avian Influenza (Airborne Disease) Transmission Transmission Contact with infected birds with Avian Influenza Virus Contact with infected birds with Avian Influenza Virus Possible infected person to non-infected person through air transmission, currently very rare transmission route Possible infected person to non-infected person through air transmission, currently very rare transmission route Usually in Asian countries where poultry are housed with humans Usually in Asian countries where poultry are housed with humans Symptoms Symptoms Fever, cough, eye infections, pneumonia Fever, cough, eye infections, pneumonia Only certain strains of Avian Influanza Virus can infect humans, but these strains mutate readily Only certain strains of Avian Influanza Virus can infect humans, but these strains mutate readily Treatment Treatment Currently working on vaccinations for the different strains Currently working on vaccinations for the different strains Medications are quickly becoming obsolete due to quickly changing virus Medications are quickly becoming obsolete due to quickly changing virus

Community MRSA (Dermal Transmission) Methicillan Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Staph infection that is resistant to most antibiotics Staph infection that is resistant to most antibiotics Transmission Transmission Skin to skin contact with sores Skin to skin contact with sores Contaminated items Contaminated items Crowded living conditions Crowded living conditions Symptoms Symptoms Boils, sores, pimples, abscesses Boils, sores, pimples, abscesses Usually acquired in a hospital setting or institution Usually acquired in a hospital setting or institution Treatment Treatment Antibiotic cocktails Antibiotic cocktails Draining of abscesses or boils Draining of abscesses or boils Prevention Prevention Practice good hygiene Practice good hygiene

Flesh Eating Bacteria (Dermal Transmission) Group A Streptococcus Necrotizing Fasciitis (NF) Necrotizing Fasciitis (NF) Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) Transmission Transmission Direct contact of broken skin with infected person’s mucuos Direct contact of broken skin with infected person’s mucuos Bacteria enter into a location not generally populated by bacteria, grow without competition or immune system attacks (muscles, blood stream, pleural sacs) Bacteria enter into a location not generally populated by bacteria, grow without competition or immune system attacks (muscles, blood stream, pleural sacs) Symptoms Symptoms NF – fever, severe pain, swelling at wound site NF – fever, severe pain, swelling at wound site STSS – fever, dizziness, confusion, flat red rash over large amount of body STSS – fever, dizziness, confusion, flat red rash over large amount of body Treatment Treatment Antibiotics for early detected illness Antibiotics for early detected illness NF – surgical removal of affected area NF – surgical removal of affected area Hyperbolic chambers Hyperbolic chambers