Exposure to HIV includes two major categories: occupational exposure and non-occupational exposure.
Occupational exposure refers to health care workers who are at risk of HIV infection due to contact with blood, tissue fluids, body fluids or HIV-contaminated medical devices and equipment from HIV-infected individuals in the course of their occupational work. Common routes include needle stick injuries, incomplete skin or mucous membrane contact with the source of exposure. If the source of exposure is blood, the risk of HIV infection is roughly 0.3% after needlestick exposure, 0.09% after mucosal exposure, and the risk of exposure through incomplete skin is unclear and generally considered lower than mucosal. The following factors can increase the risk of infection: deep needlestick injuries (especially hollow needles), high exposure (untreated AIDS patients with high viral load in the body), direct puncture of blood vessels by contaminated instruments, etc.
Non-occupational exposure is the risk of HIV infection through behavior that is not a medical procedure. The most common is unprotected sex, such as condomless vaginal intercourse, condomless anal intercourse, etc. Likewise, a high viral load of the other party, lack of antiviral treatment, passive parties, and having broken bleeding are all risk factors that increase the risk of infection.
Regardless of whether the exposure is occupational or non-occupational, if it occurs, the correct treatment is: squeeze the wound gently to squeeze out as much blood as possible, then flush the wound with soap, running water or saline; disinfect and dress the wound locally with 75% ethanol (not allowed on mucous membranes) or 0.5% povidone-iodine; then go immediately to a medical professional for a post-exposure risk assessment : Make a prudent decision after weighing the risk of infection and adverse effects of medication. If blocking drugs are administered, prophylaxis should be administered within 2 hours, preferably no more than 24 hours, if possible, but even if more than 24 hours, prophylaxis is recommended within 72 hours. The general course of treatment for both the basic and intensive dosing regimens is 28 days. HIV testing for HIV antibodies is performed immediately after HIV exposure and at 4, 8, and 12 weeks thereafter.
Currently, with the above effective means of blockade, it is generally believed that the blockade rate can be close to 100%, so if exposure occurs, it must be handled scientifically and reasonably to avoid missing the best time for treatment.
If HIV exposure occurs, reasonable blockade and treatment can effectively reduce the prevalence rate, and the best time for treatment should be avoided.