Bloodborne HIV AIDS Page 4

Transmission of Germs

Page 4

There are four ways in which germs are spread.

Airborne Germs

Airborne or respiratory germs are spread via droplets through the nose, mouth, sinus, throat, lungs, and contaminated tissues or fabrics. Some potential outcomes include TB, colds, chicken pox, and more. This is also referred to as indirect contact.

Direct Contact Germs

Direct contact germs are spread through directly contacting an infected area of the body or bodily fluid. Some sources for direct contact are saliva, mucus, eye discharge, pus or a weeping wound. This direct contact has the potential to cause conjunctivitis (pink eye), impetigo, lice, chicken pox, etc.

Fecal-Oral Route Germs

Fecal-oral route of transmission is when germs are transferred from stool to a person’s mouth usually via hands, food, toys that are put in the mouth, toilets, diapers, and more. This can potentially cause hand, foot, and mouth disease, hepatitis A, or rotavirus.

Blood Contact Transmission

Blood contact transmission can occur when a person comes into contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. Some common ways this occurs is through a needle-stick injury, a cut with contaminated glass, sexual contact, an infected mother may expose her newborn through amniotic fluid, blood during birth, or breast milk (less likely), or when blood enters a body through a mucus membrane such as eye, nose, or mouth. Potential diseases from this exposure include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.

Bloodborne Pathogens and HIV/AIDS Training for Child Care Professionals