Exposures - Airborne Pathogens

This month we’re focusing on Exposure, and while the fire service is vulnerable to all kinds of communicable diseases, this week we’ll take a look at the Airborne Pathogen Exposures (aka Atmospheric Disbursed Contaminants) that you’ve been reporting to us.  The most prevalent Airborne Pathogens that Texas departments are reporting to us are Meningitis and Tuberculosis (TB), but check out the other pathogens you’re being exposed to out there: 

Airborne Pathogen Exposure by Type (2011) - click to enlarg

Most of these Airborne Pathogen Exposures are occurring during Rescue-Non Fire activities.  Thus, we believe most of them are occurring when you come in contact with patients. 

Airborne Pathogen Exposure by Duty (2011) - click to enlarge

Because we’re seeing so many Meningitis and TB cases during the Rescue-Non Fire calls, we’re going to focus on giving you information about these diseases, how you might be getting exposed to these diseases, and how you might avoid exposure to these diseases.

Meningitis bacteria image courtesy of Sanofi Pasteur on flickr

Meningitis (CDC)

 Meningitis symptoms can develop over several hours, or they may take 1 to 2 days to surface, so keep your eye out on yourself and your team members.  Unfortunately, these symptoms often mimic flu symptoms, so if you know you’ve been exposed, see a doctor ASAP.

Bacterial Meningitis is spread not via common contact, but through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions.  In your line of work, this could mean something like mouth to mouth resuscitation.  It can also be passed to those living in close contact with someone with one of these pathogens.  Delaying treatment for bacterial meningitis increases the risk of permanent brain damage or death.  It’s important to see a doctor as soon as you observe symptoms or know you’ve been exposed.

While Bacterial Meningitis can be fatal in vulnerable populations, Viral Meningitis usually only lasts 7-10 days, BUT it’s easier to acquire.  It is most often spread during Summer and Fall months, and caused by enteroviruses such as: mumps, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex viruses, and varicella-zoster virus—the cause of chickenpox and shingles, measles, and influenza.  It can also be spread via mosquitoes.  Avoid these viruses (and mosquitoes) and avoid Viral Meningitis.

Quick tips for avoiding viruses leading to Viral Meningitis:

·        Get the MMR and Chicken Pox vaccines

 image courtesy of the CDC

·        Clean up properly if you come in contact with a rodent infestation

·        Avoid mosquito bites

·        Wash your hands

·        Disinfect surfaces

·        Cough into your sleeve or a tissue

·        Do not kiss, or exchange saliva with infected people

Tuberculosis (CDC)

Aside from coughing up blood, the symptoms of TB mimic the flu or a bad cold, so again, get yourself tested if you observe any symptoms. 

TB image courtesy of Sanofi Pasteur on flickr

TB is not passed on through direct contact, so it’s not easy to avoid.  If someone with TB coughs, sneezes, or just breaths heavily into the air, it can then be inhaled by others and they can get infected.  You are at risk of being infected if you spend time around someone with TB or if you have a compromised immune system.  If you are infected, you can have Latent TB (meaning you are carrying it, but not affected by it, and you can’t pass it on, BUT it CAN turn in to TB Disease!) or TB Disease/Active TB.  If you have either, you need to get treated.  Since responding to sick patients is sometimes your job you should get tested for TB even if you don’t have symptoms.  And if you know you’re near someone with TB, take precautions to avoid sharing the air they breathe.

Flu vaccine courtesy of samantha celera on flickr

Seasonal Influenza (CDC)

And even though your departments aren’t sending us reports of Flu Exposure, we thought we’d remind you about it since it’s that time of year.  Again, since you are around sick people fairly often, AND you share a space with a number of people at the station, consider getting your flu shots to prevent illness.

Flu Attack! How A Virus Invades Your Body

Check out these resources to train yourself or your team on avoiding Airborne Exposures:

• BLOODBORNE & AIRBORNE INSTRUCTOR KIT  
• BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES 
• INFECTIOUS DISEASES 
• SILENT WAR: INFECTION CONTROL FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS, 2ND ED.

 These are free of charge to you, so click the titles to learn more and reserve your copies today!

Check out these articles about avoiding Airborne Pathogens:

• Body Substance Isolation (Firehouse.com)
• Keep Your Department Healthy During Flu Season (Fire Engineering, Sept. 2011)