Which of the following is NOT a bloodborne infection?

• A. Hepatitis A
• B. HIV
• C. Hepatitis B
• D. Hepatitis C

Answer: (A)

Understanding how infections spread helps differentiate bloodborne from other routes. Bloodborne infections are transmitted mainly through blood and certain body fluids, so pathogens like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are considered bloodborne because exposure to infected blood or ongoing blood contact is a key route of transmission. Hepatitis A, however, is primarily spread through the fecal-oral route—contaminated food or water or poor hand hygiene after using the bathroom—not through blood. While viruses can circulate in blood, Hepatitis A does not rely on blood exposure for transmission, which is why it is not a bloodborne infection. Vaccination exists for Hepatitis A (and Hepatitis B) as a preventive measure, reinforcing the difference in transmission routes.