• Question: can blood be infected?

    Asked by cradle21 to Anna on 17 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Anna Williams

      Anna Williams answered on 17 Jun 2011:

      Hi cradle21,
      Yes, blood can be infected in several different ways:
      1) Blood is a vector (or means of transport) for viruses such as HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. This virus is contracted (caught) mainly through contact with blood (sharing needles) or sexual contact with someone who is infected. Hepatitis B and C are different diseases that can also be transmitted through blood contact with an infected person. Forensic scientists, doctors, nurses and people who deal with blood everyday have to protect themselves against these diseases, through personal protective clothing and vaccinations.

      2) Blood can be infected by bacteria. This is called sepsis, or septicaemia. It is very serious and can be fatal. It is most commonly a result of infections developed in surgery and physical contact with someone with sepsis.

      3) Blood can also be infected by parasites. Trypanosomosis and malaria are caused by blood-borne parasites. The malarial parasite (there are 4 different types) is transmitted from the blood of an infected person to another person in the stomach of a mosquito. When the mosquito bites a new person, the parasite gets into the blood stream and burrows inside the blood cells.

      All these blood infections are very serious, but thankfully quite rare!

Comments

  • Photo: Craig

    Craig commented on :

    Hi Cradle21, Anna has given a very good answer to your question – the fact that blood can sometimes be infected is a very important thing to know for Forensic Scientists. This is why we take so many precautions at crime scenes where we are likely to come across blood and we don’t know anythig about the background of the pperson who is the source of the blood. We also take care when handling pieces of evidence that have come into contact with blood or other bodily fluids when we are in the laboratory. We always wear special gloves, suits and very often masks. dried blood can be quite dangerous to a forensic scientist because if it is disturbed you might breathe in small particles of it and that can be quite dangerous.

    I think blood in normal everyday circumstances is not too much to worry about if you know the person it came from and if they have any medical conditions that might cause their blood to become infected but it is always best to wear gloves where blood is involved just in case.

    I hope that adds to Anna’s answer (sorry for butting in!)

    Craig

  • Photo: Anna

    Anna commented on :

    Thanks for ‘butting in’, Craig! A great addition to my answer!