Transmission and Risk Factors for AIDS

Abstract

As we discussed in Chapter 1, HIV transmission occurs when the virus from an infected individual’s body fluids, primarily blood or semen, gains entry to the bloodstream of another person. Among some AIDS risk groups, the reasons for increased HIV susceptibility are readily apparent. Hemophiliacs and transfusion recipients were directly exposed to the virus if they received blood or blood products contaminated with HIV. The likelihood of developing HIV infection if one received contaminated blood is high in light of follow-up studies of transfusion recipients (Ward et al., 1987), although the likelihood that a transfusion recipient received contaminated blood even before antibody screening was instituted is quite low. Intravenous drug users who share needles inject themselves with blood traces from persons who previously used the same syringe. If a previous user of the needle carried the virus, HIV transmission can occur. In a similar manner, HIV-infected females who become pregnant can give birth to infants infected with the virus because the blood-borne virus circulates between the mother and the fetus (Oleske et al., 1983; Rubenstein et al., 1983).