Occupational exposure and HIV

Occupational exposure and HIV

If precautions are not followed healthcare workers may be at risk of HIV infection as a result of their work. The main cause of infection in occupational settings is exposure to HIV-infected blood via a percutaneous injury (i.e. from needles, instruments, bites which break the skin, etc.). The average risk for HIV transmission after such exposure to infected blood is low - about 3 per 1,000 injuries. Nevertheless, this is still understandably an area of considerable concern for many health care workers.¹²¹

Certain specific factors may mean a percutaneous injury carries a higher risk, for example:

• A deep injury
• A high viral load in the patient (which means they will be more infectious)
• Visible blood on the device that caused the injury
• Injury with a needle that had been placed in a source patient's artery or vein

If percutaneous exposure occurs then the site of exposure should be washed liberally with soap and water but without scrubbing. Bleeding should be encouraged by pressing gently around the site of the injury (but taking care not to press immediately on the injury site). It is best to do this under a running water tap.

"If intact skin is exposed to HIV infected blood then there is no risk of HIV transmission"

There are a small number of instances where HIV has been acquired through contact with non-intact skin or mucous membranes (i.e. splashes of infected blood in the eye). Research suggests that the risk of HIV infection after mucous membrane exposure is less than 1 in 1000.¹²² If mucocutaneous exposure occurs then the affected area should be washed thoroughly with soap and water. If the eye is affected, it should be irrigated thoroughly.

If intact skin is exposed to HIV infected blood then there is no risk of HIV transmission.

Occupational exposure and HIV

If precautions are not followed healthcare workers may be at risk of HIV infection as a result of their work. The main cause of infection in occupational settings is exposure to HIV-infected blood via a percutaneous injury (i.e. from needles, instruments, bites which break the skin, etc.). The average risk for HIV transmission after such exposure to infected blood is low - about 3 per 1,000 injuries. Nevertheless, this is still understandably an area of considerable concern for many health care workers.¹²¹

Certain specific factors may mean a percutaneous injury carries a higher risk, for example:

• A deep injury
• A high viral load in the patient (which means they will be more infectious)
• Visible blood on the device that caused the injury
• Injury with a needle that had been placed in a source patient's artery or vein

If percutaneous exposure occurs then the site of exposure should be washed liberally with soap and water but without scrubbing. Bleeding should be encouraged by pressing gently around the site of the injury (but taking care not to press immediately on the injury site). It is best to do this under a running water tap.

"If intact skin is exposed to HIV infected blood then there is no risk of HIV transmission"

There are a small number of instances where HIV has been acquired through contact with non-intact skin or mucous membranes (i.e. splashes of infected blood in the eye). Research suggests that the risk of HIV infection after mucous membrane exposure is less than 1 in 1000.¹²² If mucocutaneous exposure occurs then the affected area should be washed thoroughly with soap and water. If the eye is affected, it should be irrigated thoroughly.

If intact skin is exposed to HIV infected blood then there is no risk of HIV transmission.