Being a Dentist Can Be Dangerous – Diseases – Part 3

Bacteria can become dormant by coming a spore (like a seed) with a highly resistant cell wall as with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Humans are the only known reservoirs of M. tuberculosis. The major mode of infection is through air droplets originating from a person who has the disease either coughing, sneezing, speaking, or singing.

When in the lungs, M. tuberculosis is attempted to be attacked by a type of white blood cell called macrophages. However, but they are unable to kill and digest the bacterium as it’s cell wall is made material that inhibit the fusion of antibacterial factors.

More Viruses

There is seasonal star the flu virus. The kind that mutates to make very interesting, such as influenza A & B. This was originally courtesy of the birds. This is why is sometimes called avian flu.

Then there is the hepatitis B virus that shows up in saliva as well as blood. Hepatitis C is found in blood and only recently there is vaccine to control it.

We have Infectious hazards: Needles and other sharp objects, spatter, and aerosols can transmit these viral infections.

Even herpes simplex virus types I, found in the mouth, in cold sores, and can cause serious problem if the enter the body through a cut in the hand, or splatter into the eye.