Nosocomial Transmission and Infection Control Aspects of Parasitic and Ectoparasitic Diseases Part II. Blood and Tissue Parasites

The parasites of significant concern in this category are all protozoa, many of which are not endemic to the United States. For nosocomial transmission to occur, the usual arthropod vectors and life cycles must be bypassed; this requires parenteral transfer of the parasite by such routes as blood-open wound or mucous membrane contact, contaminated needlestick injury, blood product transfusion, or organ transplantation. Two factors combine to make such parenteral transmission of parasites a potentially severe problem when it does occur. First, low index of suspicion results in diagnostic delay and potentially more severe disease. Second, the recipients of component transfusion or organ transplantation are often immunocompromised hosts and thus more likely to develop severe illness or death from the acquired parasitic infection.