HIV Occupational Transmission

At a glance

Occupational HIV transmission is extremely rare. Only 58 cases of confirmed occupational HIV transmission to health care personnel have been reported in the United States. An additional 150 possible transmissions have also been reported to CDC.*

Woman in a medical setting, wearing a white medical uniform and a mask, holding a vial of blood.

About occupational HIV transmission

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The chance of occupational HIV transmission varies by the type of exposure. Splashes with body fluids: near zero, even if the fluids have blood in them. Fluid splashes to intact skin or mucus membrane: extremely low, even if blood is involved. Percutaneous (needle-stick) injury: less than 1 percent.
The chance of occupational HIV transmission by exposure type.

Preventing occupational HIV transmission

  • Always follow Standard Precautions. Assume that all body fluids are potentially infectious.
  • Use gloves, goggles, and other barriers when coming in contact with blood or body fluids.
  • Wash hands and other skin surfaces immediately after contact with blood or body fluids.
  • Be careful when handling and disposing of sharp instruments.
  • Use safety devices to prevent needle-stick injuries.
  • Dispose of used syringes or other sharp instruments in a sharps container.

Managing occupational HIV exposures

  • If you are exposed to HIV at work, report your exposure to the appropriate person. Then, see a doctor or visit an emergency room right away.
  • Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can reduce your chance of getting HIV infection. It must be started within 72 hours (3 days) after you may have been exposed to HIV. The sooner you start PEP, the better. Every hour counts!
  • Clinicians caring for personnel who've had a possible exposure can call the PEPline 1-888-448-4911, 11 am to 8 pm EST, seven days a week, for advice on managing the exposure.
  • Clinicians who administer PEP should tell patients about possible side effects and follow patients closely to make sure they take their medicine correctly.
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How can organizations make a difference? Occupational exposure is considered an urgent medical concern and should be managed immediately after possible exposure—the sooner the better; every hour counts. Review CDC’s guidelines for the management of occupational HIV exposures. When personnel are exposed, CDC recommends immediate treatment with PEP to prevent infection. Train personnel in infection control procedures. Remind personnel to report occupational exposures immediately after they occur. Develop and distribute written policies for the management of occupational exposures. Promote the use of safety devices to prevent sharps injuries. Report all cases of occupational HIV exposure to state health department HIV surveillance staff and the CDC coordinator at 404-639-2050.
Occupational exposure should be managed immediately after possible exposure.

* Based on the most recent data available in December 2013. Of these, only 1 confirmed case has been reported since 1999.

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Content Source:
National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention; Division of HIV Prevention