Common Pathogens and Nonpathogens

Common disease-causing viruses

adenovirus - pharyngitis

droplet, direct contact

Common disease-causing viruses

Epstein-Barr - mononucleosis

contact with saliva

Common disease-causing viruses

hepatitis A - hepatitis A

fecal-oral

Common disease-causing viruses

hepatitis B - hepatitis B

bloodborne, sexual

Common disease-causing viruses

hepatitis C - hepatitis C

bloodborne

Common disease-causing viruses

herpes simplex- cold sores, genital herpes

contact with blister fluid, sexual

Common disease-causing viruses

human immunodeficiency - AIDS

bloodborne, sexual

Common disease-causing viruses

human papillomarvirus - genital warts

sexual

Common disease-causing viruses

influenza- influenza

airborne, droplet

Common disease-causing viruses

measles- measles

airborne, droplet

Common disease-causing viruses

molluscipoxvirus- molluscum contagiosum warts

contact

Common disease-causing viruses

mumps- mumps

airborne, droplet

Common disease-causing viruses

parvovirus- fifth disease

droplet, bloodborne

Common disease-causing viruses

rabies- rabies

vector (infected animal)

Common disease-causing viruses

rhinoviruses- common cold

droplet, contact, fomites

Common disease-causing viruses

rotavirus- rotavirus

fecal- oral

Common disease-causing viruses

rubella- German measles

airborne, droplet

Common disease-causing viruses

varicella-zoster- chickenpox, shingles

airborne, droplet, contact with blister fluid

Common disease-causing viruses

Variola major- smallpox

contact, fomites

Common disease-causing multicellular parasites

Ascaris lumbricoides- roundworm

contact with contaminated soil

Common disease-causing multicellular parasites

Cimex parasites- bed bugs

contact with infested bedding or furniture

Common disease-causing multicellular parasites

Diphyllobothrium latum- tapeworm

foodborne (raw, infected fish)

Common disease-causing multicellular parasites

Enterobius vermicularis- pinworms

fecal-oral

Common disease-causing multicellular parasites

Pediculus humanus capitis- pediculosis (head lice)

contact with infested hair

Common disease-causing multicellular parasites

Phthirus pubis- pubic lice “crabs”

contact with infested pubic hair

Common disease-causing multicellular parasites

Sarcoptes scabiei- scabies

contact

Common disease-causing fungi

Aspergillus fumigatus- aspergillosis

airborne

Common disease-causing fungi

Candida albicans- candidiasis (thrush, vaginal yeast infection)

overgrowth of normal flora, not usually sexual

Common disease-causing fungi

Cryptococcus neoformans- cryptococcosis

contact with poultry droppings

Common disease-causing fungi

Trichophyton, rubrum, Trichophyton tonsurans (dermatophytes)- ringworm

contact

Common disease-causing fungi

Histoplasma capsulatum - histoplasmosis

airborne

Common disease-causing fungi

Pneumocystis jirovecii, Pneumocystis carinii- Pneumocystis pneumonia

airborne

Common disease-causing protozoa

Entamoeba histolytica - amebiasis

fecal-oral

Common disease-causing protozoa

Giardia intestinalis ( Giardia lamblia)- giardiasis

fecal-oral

Common disease-causing protozoa

Plasmodium parasites- malaria

vector (mosquito)

Common disease-causing protozoa

Toxoplasma gondii- toxoplasmosis

foodborne, vector (animal)m transplacental (pregnant patient to fetus)

Common disease-causing protozoa

Trichinella spiralis- trichinosis

foodbrone (undercooked pork)

Common disease-causing protozoa

Trichomonas vaginalis- trichomoniasis

sexual

Common disease-causing bacteria

Bacillus anthracis- anthrax

vector, contact with or eating undercooked meat from infected animals, spore inhalation

Common disease-causing bacteria

Bordetella pertussis- whooping cough

airborne

Common disease-causing bacteria

Borrelia burgdorferi- Lyme disease

Vector (tick)

Common disease-causing bacteria

Campylobacter jejuni- food poisioning

contaminated food and fluids

Common disease-causing bacteria

Chlamydia trachomatis- Chlamydia

sexual

Common disease-causing bacteria

Clostridium botulinum- botulism

foodborne

Common disease-causing bacteria

Clostridium difficile- colitis

fecal-oral

Common disease-causing bacteria

Clostridium perfringens- gas gangrene

contact (wounds)

Common disease-causing bacteria

Clostridium tetani- tetanus

contact through a deep cut

Common disease-causing bacteria

Corynebacterium diphtheriae- diphtheria

droplet

Common disease-causing bacteria

Escherichia coli- diarrhea

foodborne

Common disease-causing bacteria

Group B streptococcus- meningitis

droplet

Common disease-causing bacteria

Haemophilus influenzae- pneumonia, epiglottitis, meningitis

droplet

Common disease-causing bacteria

Helicobacter pylori- peptic ulcers disease

fecal-oral, oral anal, possibly others

Common disease-causing bacteria

Legionella pneumophila- Legionnaries’ disease

water aerosol

Common disease-causing bacteria

Listeria monocytogenes- meningitis

droplet

Common disease-causing bacteria

Mycobacterium leprae- leprosy

airborne, droplet

Common disease-causing bacteria

Mycobacterium tuberculosis- tuberculosis

airborne, droplet

Common disease-causing bacteria

Mycoplasma pneumoniae- pneumonia

droplet

Common disease-causing bacteria

Neisseria gonorrhoeae- gonorrhea

sexual

Common disease-causing bacteria

Neisseria meningitidis- meningitits

droplet

Common disease-causing bacteria

Pseudomonas aegruginosa- “hot tub rash”

contaminated water

Common disease-causing bacteria

Rickettsia prowazekii- typhus

vector (tick)

Common disease-causing bacteria

Rickettsia rickettsii- Rocky Mountain spotted fever

vector (tick)

Common disease-causing bacteria

Shigella sonnei- shigellosis

fecal-oral

Common disease-causing bacteria

Staphylococcus pneumoniae- pneumonia

airborne, droplet, contact

Common disease-causing bacteria

Streptococcus aureus- boils, septicemia, pneumonia

contact

Common disease-causing bacteria

Streptococcus pyogenes- strep throat, rheumatic fever, septicemia

droplet

Common disease-causing bacteria

Treponema pallidum- syphilis

sexual

Common disease-causing bacteria

Vibrio cholerae- cholera

fecal-oral, contaminated water

Common disease-causing bacteria

Yersinia pestis- plague

vector (flea, rodents)