According to Markowitz (2007), HIV is
transmitted by four main routes:
transmitted by four main routes:
·
Sexual contact,
Sexual contact,
·
Exposure to infected body
fluids or tissues
Exposure to infected body
fluids or tissues
·
From mother to child
From mother to child
·
Sharing of hypodermic
needles
Sharing of hypodermic
needles
i.
Sexual contact
The most frequent mode of transmission of HIV is
through sexual contact with an infected person. The majority of all
transmissions worldwide occur through heterosexual contacts (i.e. sexual contacts between people
of the opposite sex); however, the pattern of transmission varies significantly
among countries. In the United States, as of 2009, most sexual transmission
occurred in men who had sex with men with this population accounting for 64% of all new
cases (Sepkowitz, 2010).
through sexual contact with an infected person. The majority of all
transmissions worldwide occur through heterosexual contacts (i.e. sexual contacts between people
of the opposite sex); however, the pattern of transmission varies significantly
among countries. In the United States, as of 2009, most sexual transmission
occurred in men who had sex with men with this population accounting for 64% of all new
cases (Sepkowitz, 2010).
Risk of transmission increases in the presence
of many sexually transmitted infections and genital ulcers. Genital ulcers appear to increase the risk
approximately fivefold. Other sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and bacterial vaginosis, are associated with somewhat smaller increases in risk of transmission
(Evian, 2006).
of many sexually transmitted infections and genital ulcers. Genital ulcers appear to increase the risk
approximately fivefold. Other sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and bacterial vaginosis, are associated with somewhat smaller increases in risk of transmission
(Evian, 2006).
ii.
Exposure to infected body fluids or tissues
Exposure to infected body fluids or tissues
The second most frequent mode of HIV
transmission is via blood and blood products. Blood-borne transmission can be
through needle-sharing during intravenous drug use, needle stick injury,
transfusion of contaminated blood or blood product, or medical injections with
unsterilised equipment.
transmission is via blood and blood products. Blood-borne transmission can be
through needle-sharing during intravenous drug use, needle stick injury,
transfusion of contaminated blood or blood product, or medical injections with
unsterilised equipment.
Unsafe medical injections play a significant
role in HIV spread in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2007, between 12 and 17% of infections in this
region were attributed to medical syringe use. The World Health Organization
estimates the risk of transmission as a result of a medical injection in Africa
at 1.2%. Significant risks are also associated with invasive procedures,
assisted delivery, and dental care in this area of the world. People
giving or receiving tattoos, piercings, and scarification are theoretically at risk of infection
(Sepkowitz, 2010).
role in HIV spread in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2007, between 12 and 17% of infections in this
region were attributed to medical syringe use. The World Health Organization
estimates the risk of transmission as a result of a medical injection in Africa
at 1.2%. Significant risks are also associated with invasive procedures,
assisted delivery, and dental care in this area of the world. People
giving or receiving tattoos, piercings, and scarification are theoretically at risk of infection
(Sepkowitz, 2010).
iii.
From mother-to-child
HIV can be transmitted from mother to child during
pregnancy, during delivery, or through breast milk resulting in infection in
the baby. This is the third most common way in which HIV is transmitted
globally. In the absence of treatment, the risk of transmission before or
during birth is around 20% and in those who also breastfeed 35%. With
appropriate treatment the risk of mother-to-child infection can be reduced to
about 1%. Preventive treatment involves the mother taking antiretrovirals
during pregnancy and delivery, an elective caesarean section, avoiding breastfeeding, and administering
antiretroviral drugs to the newborn (Sepkowitz, 2010).
pregnancy, during delivery, or through breast milk resulting in infection in
the baby. This is the third most common way in which HIV is transmitted
globally. In the absence of treatment, the risk of transmission before or
during birth is around 20% and in those who also breastfeed 35%. With
appropriate treatment the risk of mother-to-child infection can be reduced to
about 1%. Preventive treatment involves the mother taking antiretrovirals
during pregnancy and delivery, an elective caesarean section, avoiding breastfeeding, and administering
antiretroviral drugs to the newborn (Sepkowitz, 2010).
iv Sharing of hypodermic needles
Sharing of hypodermic needles leads to the
spread of HIV/AIDS. According to Cohen and Hellmann (2015),
at the start of every
injection, blood is introduced into the needle and syringe. Therefore, a needle
and syringe that an HIV-positive person has used can contain blood with the
virus in it. Transmission occurs when another person then uses the same syringe
without cleaning it. The reuse of a blood-contaminated needle or syringe by
another person can be an effective means of transmission because a large
quantity of blood can be injected directly into the bloodstream.
spread of HIV/AIDS. According to Cohen and Hellmann (2015),
at the start of every
injection, blood is introduced into the needle and syringe. Therefore, a needle
and syringe that an HIV-positive person has used can contain blood with the
virus in it. Transmission occurs when another person then uses the same syringe
without cleaning it. The reuse of a blood-contaminated needle or syringe by
another person can be an effective means of transmission because a large
quantity of blood can be injected directly into the bloodstream.
Markowitz (2007) stated that although HIV does
not generally survive well outside the body, it can survive for long periods of
time (over 28 days) if hermetically sealed in syringe. There is a risk of HIV
infection through intravenous injecting, subcutaneous injecting (injecting into
the fat under the skin) and intramuscular injection.
not generally survive well outside the body, it can survive for long periods of
time (over 28 days) if hermetically sealed in syringe. There is a risk of HIV
infection through intravenous injecting, subcutaneous injecting (injecting into
the fat under the skin) and intramuscular injection.
CDC (2012) stated that HIV infection from blood
can occur in other ways as a result of injecting drug use:
can occur in other ways as a result of injecting drug use:
- Through sharing water used to flush blood
out of a needle and syringe. - Through sharing syringes that have been
cleaned in a way that does not eliminate all the blood they contain. - Through reusing bottle caps, spoons or other
containers used to dissolve drugs in water and to heat drug solutions. - Through unsafe disposal of needles or
syringes used for injecting drugs, leading to accidents in which blood
gets into the body of another person.
References
Centre for Diseases
Prevention and Control (CDC) (2012). Opportunistic infections and Kaposi’s sarcoma among
Haitians in the United States. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ,31 (26), 353–354.
Prevention and Control (CDC) (2012). Opportunistic infections and Kaposi’s sarcoma among
Haitians in the United States. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ,31 (26), 353–354.
Cohen, M. S. &
Hellmann, S. C. (2015). HIV
prevention in clinical care settings: 2014 recommendations of the International
Antiviral Society-USA Panel. JAMA: the Journal of the American Medical
Association, 312 (4), 390–409.
Hellmann, S. C. (2015). HIV
prevention in clinical care settings: 2014 recommendations of the International
Antiviral Society-USA Panel. JAMA: the Journal of the American Medical
Association, 312 (4), 390–409.
Evian, C. (2006). Primary
HIV/AIDS care: a practical guide for primary health care personnel in a
clinical and supportive setting (Updated 4th ed.). Houghton: Jacana
HIV/AIDS care: a practical guide for primary health care personnel in a
clinical and supportive setting (Updated 4th ed.). Houghton: Jacana
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associated with preferential depletion of CD4+ T cells from effector
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(6): 761–70.
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(6): 761–70.
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(2010). AIDS—the
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