What is a commonly known bloodborne pathogen?

Hepatitis is often highlighted as a well-known bloodborne pathogen because it directly relates to infections that are transmitted through blood and certain body fluids. Specifically, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses are significant public health concerns due to their ability to cause liver disease and their modes of transmission, which include exposure to infected blood through needles, sexual contact, or from mother to child at birth.

In contrast, other options represent pathogens with different transmission methods. The influenza virus primarily spreads through respiratory droplets and is not classified as a bloodborne pathogen. Streptococcus bacteria are typically transmitted through direct contact, respiratory droplets, or through skin and soft tissue infections, not specifically through blood. Norovirus is primarily associated with gastrointestinal illness and is transmitted through contaminated food or water, or through close contact with an infected person. Thus, hepatitis stands out as a quintessential example of a bloodborne pathogen due to its specific transmission characteristics and health implications.