Modes of Transmission of HIV
The transmission of HIV requires contact with body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk, saliva or secretions from wounds or skin lesions, which generally contain the free viruses or infected cells in varying quantities. Although the possibility of transmission from saliva is extremely rare, as it generally does not contain enough viruses to result in an infection.
The common modes by which the HIV can be transmitted include:
- Sexual contact with an infected person.
- Sharing needles and/or syringes (primarily for drug injection) with an infected person.
- Through transfusions of infected blood or blood clotting factors (now very rare in countries, where blood is screened for HIV antibodies).
- Babies born to HIV-infected women may become infected before or during birth or through breast-feeding after birth.
The following individuals are considered to be at high-risk for contracting the HIV infection and possible development of
AIDS:
- Homo- or bisexual men, who are sexually active.
- Intravenous drug users and their sexual partners.
- Men and women who share needles (for tattooing or piercing).
- Men and women with more than one sexual partner.
- Sexual intercourse with an HIV-infected partner without using a latex or polyurethane condom.
In case of healthcare workers, HIV infection can occur after being stuck with needles containing HIV-infected blood or, less frequently, after infected blood gets into a worker’s open cut or a mucous membrane (for example, the eyes or inside of the nose).
The risk of transmission following skin penetration with a medical instrument contaminated with infected blood is about 1/300, on average without treatment, which reduces to 1/1500 after immediate antiretroviral treatment.1–3
HIV/AIDS does not spread by
- talking, touching or hugging an infected individual
- Sharing clothes or utensils
Next page: Signs and symptoms of HIV infection
Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated: March 23, 2012