HIV Transmission

HIV Transmission

Write the routes of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus.
Or
Write short notes on routes of spread of HIV infection.
Answer:

Transmission of HIV infection occurs by following routes:

• Sexual transmission: Sexual contact is the main mode of spread and constitutes 75% of all cases of HIV transmission. Most cases of AIDS in the industrialized world such occur in homosexual or bisexual males while heterosexual promiscuity seems to be the dominant mode of HIV infection. Other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) may act as cofactors for the spread of HIV in particular gonorrheal and chlamydial infection. Transmission from male to male and male to female is a more potent route than that from female to male.
• Transmission via blood and blood products: This mode of transmission is the next largest group (25%) and occurs in 3 types of high-risk populations:
  • Intravenous drug abusers by sharing needles, syringes, etc. comprise a large group.
  • Hemophiliacs who have received large amounts of clotting factor concentrates from pooled blood components from multiple donors.
  • Recipients of HIV-infected blood and blood products who have received multiple transfusions of whole blood or components like platelets and plasma.
• Perinatal transmission: HIV infection occurs from the infected mother to the newborn during pregnancy transplacentally or in the immediate postpartum period through contamination with maternal blood, infected amniotic fluid, and breast milk.

HIV transmission routes

• Occupational transmission: There have been a small number of healthcare workers, laboratory workers, and those engaged in the disposal of waste of sharps who have developed HIV infection by occupational exposure to HIV-infected material, most often by needle-stick injury. It is imperative that these workers follow the CDC guidelines for universal precautions which include disinfecting and sterilizing all reusable devices and use of bleaching solution for disinfecting all blood spillage.
• Transmission by other body fluids: Besides blood, HIV has been isolated and identified from a number of body fluids such as saliva, tears, sweat, urine, semen, vaginal secretions, cervical secretions, breast milk, CSF, synovial, pleural, peritoneal and pericardial fluid, there is no definite evidence that HIV transmission can occur by any of these flids; isolated cases of such infection reported are likely due to concomitant contamination with HIV-infected blood.