1- Avoid stereotypes. Anyone can be infected with HIV/AIDS, from the out-and-proud guy across the street to the girl next door. 2- Talk to new sexual partners honestly about your risk factors and request the same frank disclosure from them. Risk factors include sharing needles during IV drug use, having unprotected sex with a partner whose HIV status was unknown or unclear and having another sexually transmitted disease. 3- Remember that many people who are infected don't realize they are infected. They may not even realize they are at risk. When you come into contact with another person's blood, urine, feces or semen, assume they are infectious unless proven otherwise. 4- Practice safe sex. This means using a condom with spermicide for anal, vaginal or oral penetration. Lesbians may wish to use a dental dam, a thin latex square, for oral sex. 5- Use medical latex or non-latex gloves if you will be coming into contact with another person's blood, urine, feces or semen. Health care workers consider this a "universal precaution" which means they wear protective equipment regardless of the client's HIV/AIDS status. 6-Avoid sharing needles if you use IV or injection drugs. Some cities have needle exchange programs and some states allow pharmacies to sell certain types of syringes without a prescription. 7-Keep in mind that abstinence from sexual activity outside of a committed monogamous relationship is one of the best ways to protect yourself from HIV/AIDS. 8-Learn more about how to protect yourself from HIV/AIDS. The American Red Cross offers several excellent community programs as well as publications to help keep both youths and adults safe. See the Resources section below for a link. Source
Self Assessment Question on needle stick injuries A 31-year-old female health care worker presents to your clinic after a needlestick injury from a patient who subsequently left against medical advice prior to laboratory analysis for HIV or hepatitis. You advise your colleague that: A. If the patient had HIV, her risk of seroconversion is 20%. B. If the patient had Hepatitis B, her risk of seroconversion is 2%. C. If the patient had Hepatitis C, her risk of seroconversion is 5%. D. If the patient had HIV, her risk of seroconversion is 0.3%. E. If the patient had Hepatitis C, her risk of seroconversion is 50%. EXPLANATION: The rate of HBV transmission to susceptible health care workers ranges from 6 to 30% after a single needlestick exposure to an HBV-positive patient. The average incidence of anti-HCV seroconversion after unintentional needle sticks or sharps exposure from an HCV-positive source is 1.8% (range, 0 - 7%). Average risk of HIV transmission after a percutaneous exposure to HIV-infected blood is approximately 0.3%. Postexposure prophylaxis may reduce the risk of transmission of HIV following a needlestick. The answer is D.
