Occupational Skin Infections

Table 1. High-Risk Job Tasks
Occupations High-Risk Job Task Diseases
  • Dentist
  • Dental assistant
  • Dental hygienist
  • Physician
  • Physician assistant
  • Respiratory therapist
  • Paramedic
Work in patients’ mouths
  • Farmer & Rancher
  • Farmworker
  • Animal scientist
  • Animal breeder
  • Veterinarian
Touch infected farm animals
  • Farmer & Rancher
  • Farmworker
  • Groundskeeper
  • Laborer
Walk barefooted in contaminated soil
  • Florist
  • Farmer & Rancher
  • Farmworker
  • Groundskeeper
  • Horticulturist
  • Materials processor
  • Tree trimmer
Touch plants containing thorns, splinters or spaghum moss
  • Slaughterer
  • Meat packer
  • Butcher
Touch infected meat or poultry
  • Fisher
Touch infected fish or shellfish
  • Dishwasher
  • Poultry processor
  • Cannery processor
  • Bartender
Work continuously with wet hands
  • Groundskeeper
  • Aquarium keeper
Clean pools or aquariums
  • Mycobacterium marinum skin infection
  • Hunter & Trapper
  • Laborer
Work in forest in endemic areas of Central and South America

References: Control of Communicable Diseases Manual; "Occupational Infections" by Dieckhaus KD & Garibaldi RA in Rom; "Occupational Infections" by Cohen R in LaDou; p. 280-281 in Marks & DeLeo;

Revised May 30, 2018