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Chapter 16: Occupational Infections

Timur S. Durrani; Lisa Winston

INTRODUCTION

Occupational infections are human diseases caused by work-associated exposure to microbial agents, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Occupational infection can occur following contact with infected persons or surfaces, as in the case of health care workers; with infected animal or human tissue, secretions, or excretions, as with laboratory workers; with asymptomatic or unknown contagious humans, as happens during business travel; or with infected animals, as in agriculture. See Table 16–1 for work-related pathogens by specific job title.

Table 16–1.Work-related pathogens by specific job title or broader occupational groups.
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Table 16–1. Work-related pathogens by specific job title or broader occupational groups.
Occupation Pathogen
Abattoir workers Brucella spp, (swine) influenza virus, Campylobacter spp, Coxiella burnetii, Escherichia coli, hepatitis E virus, Leptospira hardjo, Leptospira pomona, Toxocara canis, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
Archaeologists Coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis
Armed forces Leishmania spp, Acinetobacter, Coccidioides immitis, and rabies
Childcare providers Cryptosporidium parvum, cytomegalovirus, Giardia lamblia, hepatitis A virus, parvovirus, varicella zoster virus
Divers Blastomyces dermatitidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Farm workers, animal handlers (Methicillin resistant) Staphylococcus aureus, (swine and avian) influenza virus, Borrelia burgdorferi, Brucella spp, Campylobacter spp, Chlamydophila psittaci, Clostridium tetani, C burnetii, hepatitis E virus, Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae, Mycobacterium bovis, Streptococcus suis, Strongyloides stercoralis, T canis, Toxoplasma gondii, West Nile virus
Farm workers, crop harvesters B burgdorferi, C tetani, C burnetii, E coli, Leishmania spp, S stercoralis, T canis
Fishermen, fishmongers Anisakis simplex, E rhusiopathiae, and Mycobacterium marinum.
Forestry workers Anaplasma phagocytophilum, B burgdorferi, C burnetii, hantavirus, Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia helvetica, tick-borne encephalitis virus, T gondii
Funeral service workers Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Gardeners Francisella tularensis, Sporothrix schenckii
Health care workers (Methicillin resistant) S aureus, Bordetella pertussis, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human herpes virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human parvovirus, influenza virus, measles virus, mumps virus,, M tuberculosis, rubella virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, Streptococcus pyogenes, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, varicella zoster virus, scabies
Hunter, trapper B burgdorferi, Brucella spp, Echinococcus granulosus, Echinococcus multilocularis, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, F tularensis, hantavirus, L icterohaemorrhagiae, Leptospira interrogans, T canis
Clinical laboratory workers C immitis, Brucella spp, Neisseria meningitidis, Francisella tularensis. Note: Researchers who work with a variety of live organisms may be at risk.
Prison guards M tuberculosis, methicillin-resistant S aureus
Sex workers (also adult movie actors) Chlamydia trachomatis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, herpes simplex virus, HIV, human papilloma virus, human T-lymphotropic virus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum, Trichomonas vaginalis
Teachers, primary Influenza, rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, human metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, coronaviruses, other respiratory viruses, measles, and mumps
Domestic animal care workers (Methicillin resistant) S aureus, (swine) influenza virus, Bartonella henselae, Brucella spp, Campylobacter spp, C psittaci, C tetani, C burnetii, hepatitis E virus, ...

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