Are health care workers at risk of getting HIV on the job?
The risk of health care workers being exposed to HIV on the job is very low, especially if they carefully follow "universal precautions," which are meant to protect them from exposure to all body fluids.  The main risk of HIV transmission for health care workers on the job is through accidental injuries from needles and other sharp instruments that might be contaminated with the virus.  However, even this risk is small. Scientists estimate that the risk of infection from a needlestick is less than 1%, a figure based on the findings of several studies of health care workers who received punctures from HIV-contaminated needles or were otherwise exposed to HIV-contaminated blood. 

If a health care worker is exposed to HIV-contaminated bodily fluid on the job, they can take medications to help reduce their risk of infection.  These treatments, called post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, usually involve taking a four-week regimen of two or three antiretroviral drugs.  The health worker should undergo a baseline test for HIV infection and begin PEP as quickly as possible after the exposure, usually within 36 hours.  PEP guidelines are available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

• Overview
• Facts at a Glance
• FAQ
• Libraries
• Organizations