A nurse is educating a group of assistive personnel about the transmission routes of different types of hepatitis viruses. Which of the following hepatitis types are transmitted via contact with infected blood or bodily fluids? (Select All that Apply.)

Choice A rationale Alcoholic Hepatitis is liver inflammation and damage that occurs due to heavy alcohol consumption. It is not an infectious disease caused by a virus and therefore is not transmitted via contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. It is a direct result of the toxic effects of alcohol and its metabolites, such as acetaldehyde, on the hepatocytes, leading to cellular injury and immune response. Choice B rationale Hepatitis A is primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route, usually via consumption of contaminated food or water, or close person-to-person contact in unsanitary conditions. While theoretically possible in extremely rare circumstances through blood exposure, it is not considered a primary route and is classified as non-bloodborne, unlike Hepatitis B, C, and D. Choice C rationale Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is efficiently transmitted through percutaneous or mucosal exposure to infected blood or various body fluids, including semen and vaginal secretions. Common transmission routes include unsafe sexual contact, shared needles among intravenous drug users, needlestick injuries in healthcare, and mother-to-child transmission during birth. Choice D rationale Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is predominantly transmitted through contact with infected blood, primarily via sharing injection drug equipment, which accounts for the majority of new infections. Other routes include blood transfusions before screening was implemented, needlestick injuries, and less commonly, sexual contact or perinatal transmission. Choice E rationale Fatty Liver, or steatosis, is a buildup of excess fat in the liver cells (hepatocytes). It is not caused by a transmissible pathogen like a virus. It is a metabolic condition caused by causes such as obesity, diabetes, and excessive alcohol use, meaning it cannot be spread through blood or bodily fluids. Choice F rationale Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a defective virus that requires the co-presence of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) for replication and causes infection only in individuals who are already infected with HBV. HDV transmission, therefore, follows the same routes as HBV, which are primarily through contact with infected blood and bodily fluids.