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24 November, 2009

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HIV and AIDS - infection control in hospitals

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus – the virus that can cause acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) if untreated. HIV is a blood borne virus (BBV) that is carried in the blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. Hospitals follow strict infection control guidelines to prevent the spread of HIV to patients. This includes disposing of needles and syringes after one use and sterilising instruments after every use.

How HIV is spread
HIV is spread through:

Unprotected anal, vaginal or oral sex (without a condom or dam) with an infected person
Sharing needles, syringes and other injecting equipment with an infected person
From mother to baby during childbirth or breastfeeding.

How HIV is not spread
Although there may be patients with HIV or AIDS in hospitals, you cannot catch HIV from hospital:

Toilets or bathrooms
Food
Cutlery or crockery
Air – HIV cannot be spread through the air.

The risk of HIV from blood transfusions is extremely small
Since March 1985, all blood transfusions have been screened for HIV (in Australia). People at risk of HIV infection are excluded from donating blood.

Every unit of donated blood is comprehensively screened for a wide range of blood-borne infections, including HIV. The test that checks for the presence of HIV antibodies has been supplemented, since July 2000, by the nucleic acid test (NAT). Rather than just checking for antibodies (the body’s response to infection), NAT looks for viral nucleic acid (the presence of the virus itself). The ‘window period’ – the time between infection and the detection of the virus in the blood – is reduced from around 22 days to11 days with this sophisticated technology. NAT is also used to screen donated blood for hepatitis C.

Because of these tests, the risk of becoming infected with HIV from a blood transfusion is extremely small.

Hospital policies protect you from HIV and AIDS
To prevent the spread of HIV, strict infection control guidelines are followed in hospitals. All blood and body fluids are treated as potentially infectious:

Syringes and needles are used once only.
Instruments are cleaned and sterilised after every use.
Many items are disposed of after single use.
Healthcare workers wear protective gowns, gloves and eyewear when carrying out procedures involving blood and body fluids.
Spilt blood and body fluids are cleaned up according to strict procedures.
Laundry is cleaned according to strict infection control procedures.

The risk to hospital workers
Hospital workers can become infected with HIV if they accidentally prick themselves with a needle or other sharp instrument contaminated with HIV. However, only a very small number of hospital workers around the world have become infected with HIV in this way. A service and preventative treatment is available for workers who have accidentally pricked themselves with a needle or other sharp instrument contaminated with HIV. Preventive treatment may prevent the HIV getting into the bloodstream.

If a hospital worker has HIV or AIDS
Even if a hospital worker has HIV, there are strict infection guidelines that protect you as the patient. You cannot become infected with HIV through:

Casual contact, such as shaking hands
Being washed
Having your dressing changed
Receiving an injection.

Protecting hospital staff from HIV
If a hospital staff member has an accident involving your blood, you may be asked to allow the hospital to test your blood for HIV, hepatitis C or hepatitis B. Hospitals treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious. By testing your blood, the hospital will know whether the worker has been exposed to the viruses and should start preventive treatment.

Where to get help

Your Occupational Health and Safety officer or staff health clinic (if you are a health care worker)
Your doctor
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre Tel. (03) 9341 6200 or 1800 032 017 or TTY (for the hearing impaired) (03) 9347 8619
The Infection Control Nurse, Department of Human Services Victoria Tel. 1300 651 160

Things to remember

You cannot catch HIV or AIDS from hospital toilets, crockery or casual contact.
Hospitals have strict infection guidelines to prevent the spread of HIV.
The risk of catching HIV from blood transfusions is extremely small.

You might also be interested in:
HIV and AIDS.
HIV testing.
HIV treatment.
Work issues - infection control.

Want to know more?
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