Element B5 / 2 Effects and diseases - OHS.me.uk · Diseases Legionellosis Bacterium on water Hot water systems, cooling systems Type of pneumonia Those who maintain water systems

Element B5

Element B5 / 2

Effects and diseases

Principle Effects

Fungi - Infections

Superficial

Skin, hair, nails, genitals, mouth

Thrush – Candida Albicans

Rinworm and Athletes foot – Tinea

Subcutaneous

Beneath skin – rare

Sporotrichosis – contaminated cuts

Deep

Internal organs

Aspergillosis – lungs

Rare but becoming more common

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Principle Effects

Bacteria – Infections

Body’s first line of defence – substances hostile to

bacteria

Eyes – enzyme in tears

Stomach – hydrochloric acid

Then white blood cells attack

Neutrophils – destroy

Lymphocytes - antibodies

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Principle Effects

Viruses – infections

Severely interrupt invaded cells

Weaken immune system

Defence = immune system

Will deal with them in time

Some spread too fast before immune system can deal with

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Diseases

Cryptosporidiosis

Zoonotic

Parasite (protozoa)

Intestinal tract of fishes, reptiles, birds, mammals

C. parvum

Contaminated drinking water – agricultural “run-off”

Resistant to chlorine

Treatment workers, farm workers, zoo workers,

Short term mild diarrhoea

Chronic effects – low immune systems

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Diseases

Aspergillosis

Farmers Lung

Aspergillus – fungus

Saprophyte – grows on material not alive

Bread – mould

Invasive disease

Body will resist unless in part not normally exposed

Eyeballs or heart

No antibiotics or vaccine

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Diseases

Aspergillosis

Allergy

Spores released when disturbed

Bails of hay / straw

Asthma – million spores a minute – moving mouldy hay

Spores penetrate lungs

Toxins

Peanuts – produce aflatoxin

Fatal poisoning stock animals, cancer

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Diseases

Psittacosis

Avian Chlamydiosis – similar to farmers lung

Work with birds, poultry. Pet shop, vets

Inhalation dried droppings, feathers

Respiratory problems and pneumonia

“pigeon fanciers lung”

Controls – good ventilation, damping area to prevent

airborne dust, RPE

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Diseases

Hepatitis

Inflammation of liver

Passed from human to human

Viral

Hepatitis A

Spread by ingesting virus from other person, raw or

undercooked shellfish from contaminated water

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Diseases

Hepatitis B

HBV virus

Resilient – survives in environment for weeks

Found in bodily fluids

Persist for years after illness – can still “carry”

Symptoms Flu like, tiredness, anorexia, nausea, fever, jaundice, enlarged liver

Easily spread Sexual contact, injection, contaminated sharps, dentistry, mother to

baby

10% become chronic

Class 3 Biological Agent

Healthcare workers, emergency, drug users. Cleaners – sharps

Controls Destroy with bleach, disinfect, PPE, disposable gloves

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Diseases

HIV

Human Immuno-deficiency virus

STD and BBV (bloodborne virus)

Attacks immune system

Not recognised as threat because its structure mimics blood

sugar

Delicate – does not live long outside body

More likely to contract from actual direct contact – bodily

fluids

Progressive destruction of CD4 immune cells

Leads to AIDS

Emergency serv, healthcare, prison, social workers

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Diseases

AIDS

Caused by HIV

Infected body fluids – person to person

Delicate – can be killed by heat and chemicals

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Diseases

Legionellosis

Bacterium on water Hot water systems, cooling systems

Type of pneumonia

Those who maintain water systems Inhale

Not contagious

Large buildings at risk

Widespread in waterways Needs sludge, scale, algae, rust and temp of 20-50c

Controls Careful comissioning, adequate maintenance, routine cleaning, use of

biocides

Chlorination of water 2-4ppm

Heating water to 55 / 60c and above

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Diseases

Leptospirosis

Zoonotic – bacterial

Caused by Leptospira

Weil’s Disease

Urine from infected rats

Hardjo

Cattle to humans

Incubation 4 to 19 days

Needs warm surroundings – prevalent in summer

Protected from sunlight – survives in watercourses

Following illness – immunity lasts for years

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Diseases

Leptospirosis

Mostly rodents

Also dogs, hedgehogs, foxes, pigs, cattle

Person to person is rare

Body fluids – transmit

At risk – Water / sewage work, canals, rivers, farming (rats, cows

being milked – urine), water sports

Controls Rodent control, PPE, hygiene precautions, training of GPs to

recognise those at occupational risk, Lepto Info card.

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Diseases

E. coli

Bacterial

Inflammation of small intestine

Type of gastroenteritis – escherichia coli bacteria

Intestines of healthy cattle

Slaughter, processing

Accidental contact with faeces – dairy, farming

Incubation 24 to 72 hours

Symptoms – result from toxins and bacterial invasion

Children – can be severe

Control

Effective hygiene, cleaning carcasses, meat is not mixed, effective handling and disposal of faeces

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Diseases

MRSA

Methicillen-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Common skin bacterium

Resistant to range of antibiotics

Lives on skin – transferred to other surfaces Most carriers ok, but can be transferred to vulnerable people

Elderly, very young, ill, medication

Most cases – hospitals Skin contact – bedding, clothing

Pass through cut, wound

Produces toxin – causes boils, sores, itchy blisters, blood poisoning

Controls - Washing hands, not sharing towels etc, antiseptic dressings,

disinfection of surfaces, 60c wash

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Diseases

CDIFF

Clostridium difficile

Spore producing bacterium

Severe diarrhoea, cramps, colitis, can be fatal (rarely)

Hospitals, care homes, those who have taken

antibiotics

Control – hand washing

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Emerging Health Issues

Norovirus

Form of gastroenteritis

12-72 hrs incubation

2 days duration

Highly contagious

Schools, hospitals, prisons – institutional settings

Controls – good hygiene and deep cleaning

Transmitted by faecal – oral route

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Emerging Health Issues

SARS

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

SARS coronavirus

Incubation 1 week

Can lead to pneumonia – fatal

Controls

Non-essential travel to affected areas

PPE for healthcare workers

Isolation of affected patients

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Emerging Health Issues

Avian influenza

Bird flu

Normally infects only birds, pigs. Poultry especially

vulnerable

Transmission from birds to humans

Limited evidence of human to human

New strains may develop

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Emerging Health Issues

Pandemic Flu

Different viruses

Different from ordinary flu

New virus emerges and infects population

Human to human

HPA – likely avian flu will develop

New virus – whole population will be susceptible

No immunity

Dept of Health – estimates 50% at risk

Teachers, health care, child care

Incubation 1 to 4 days

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