Laboratory-acquired blood-borne parasites from accidental exposure

Abstract EN

Background Infection caused by blood protozoa is becoming very common, especially in developed countries because of immunosuppressed persons and travelers.

Therefore, this review aimed to illustrate the dangers of blood protozoa exposure among persons working in medical laboratories, especially when dealing with samples containing blood protozoa such as Babesia, Leishmania, Plasmodium, and Trypanosoma spp.

Conclusion As protozoa multiply rapidly in humans even with a small inoculum, they can cause illness, in contrast to helminths.

Diagnoses of infection can be confirmed through dermal scraping, examination of the stained slides by light microscopy, obtaining biopsy specimens for thin, stained smear, and needle aspiration for cultures of Leishmania spp.

In addition, protocols should be provided for handling specimens that could carry viable organisms, using protective laboratory equipment