What is the risk of HIV transmission?
The risk of HIV transmission after a puncture wound with a hollow-bore needle is 0.3%. It is important to remember that the risk of infection is higher when there is a large-volume exposure, a deep percutaneous injury, or an injury with a hollow-bore, blood-filled needle, or if the source has advanced HIV disease or has a high level of HIV viremia. The current CDC recommendations advise against HIV PEP when the source is unknown and in settings where the HIV prevalence is low. Question: What counseling and followup should be recommended? Answer: Because of the low prevalence of HIV in this setting, the employee should be advised against taking HIV medications. Also, because she is HBsAb positive she is not a candidate for HBV PEP. The HCP should be advised to refrain from donating blood, plasma, organs, or tissue, to use barrier methods during sexual activities, and to refrain from sharing any injection or other drug use equipment. She should also be counseled about universal precautio
