ABSTRACT
BLOOD-BORNE VIRUSES Blood-borne viruses (BBVs) are mainly found in blood or bodily fluids. Blood-borne infection is any infection which is transmitted from the bloodstream of one individual to the bloodstream of another. Blood-borne infection is transmitted by infected blood or bloodstained body fluids coming into contact with an open lesion on the skin and by injury with a sharp object contaminated with infected blood. However, the risk of transmission of BBV depends on a number of factors, including the frequency and scale of contact with blood and body fluids, the behaviour of different persons, the type of material contact is made with and the infectious nature of person or material. BBVs, especially the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis viruses B and C (HBV, HCV), pose major risks to the health of people who inject illicit drugs. This is largely because of transfer of blood through sharing of contaminated injecting equipment or of environmental contamination in injecting settings. The main BBVs are human immunodeficiency (HIV), hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
