Which definition best describes a bloodborne pathogen in the context of infectious disease transmission?

• A. Any microorganism that is transmitted primarily through inhalation of respiratory droplets or aerosols
• B. A bacterium that causes illness only after ingestion of contaminated food or water
• C. A pathogen that survives mainly on dry surfaces and spreads through contact with fomites alone
• D. A microorganism in human blood that can cause disease and can be transmitted when blood or certain other body fluids enter another person’s bloodstream or mucous membranes

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the term 'bloodborne pathogen' by breaking down the phrase: 'bloodborne' refers to something carried or transmitted through the blood, and 'pathogen' means a microorganism that can cause disease.
2. Step 2: Recognize that bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms present in human blood that can cause disease when transmitted to another person.
3. Step 3: Identify the primary mode of transmission for bloodborne pathogens, which is through exposure to infected blood or certain other body fluids entering another person's bloodstream or mucous membranes.
4. Step 4: Compare this definition with other modes of transmission such as inhalation of respiratory droplets, ingestion of contaminated food or water, or contact with contaminated surfaces (fomites), and note that these do not describe bloodborne transmission.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best definition of a bloodborne pathogen is a microorganism in human blood that can cause disease and is transmitted when blood or certain other body fluids enter another person’s bloodstream or mucous membranes.