HIV Transmission and Risk Factors

HIV Transmission via Blood Exposure

• HIV can be transmitted through exposure to blood, particularly when sharing drug-using paraphernalia.
• Items such as needles, syringes, straws, and other equipment can be contaminated with HIV or other bloodborne organisms.

Safety of Blood Supply

• Routine screening of blood donors helps identify at-risk individuals.
• Testing donated blood for the presence of HIV significantly improves the safety of the blood supply.
• In countries with routine testing, HIV infection via blood transfusions or hemophilia clotting factors is unlikely.

Work-Related HIV Transmission

• Puncture wounds are the most common means of work-related HIV transmission.

• The risk of infection after a needlestick exposure to HIV-infected blood is approximately 0.3%.

  • $Risk = 0.3\%$

Factors Increasing Risk from Needlestick Exposure

• Several factors can increase the risk of HIV transmission after a needlestick exposure:
  • Exposure to blood from a patient with a high level of circulating HIV.
  • Deep puncture wounds.
  • Needles with a hollow bore and visible blood.
  • Devices used for venous or arterial access.

Splash Exposures

• Splash exposures of blood on skin with an open lesion present some risk, but it is much lower than from a puncture wound.