http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...ies/2006042400
341200.htm



Spread of HIV

A few weeks ago, in a movie theatre in Paris, a lady felt something
poked her. When she got up to see what it was, she found a needle
sticking out of the seat with a note that read: "You have just been
infected by HIV."

The Disease Control Centre (in Paris) reports many similar events in
many other cities. All tested needles were HIV positive. The Centre also
reports that needles have been found in cash dispensers at public
banking machines.

Recently, a doctor narrated a somewhat similar instance that happened to
one of his patients at the Priya Cinema in Delhi. A girl who was engaged
to be married in a couple of months was infected in the same way. Though
the doctors told her family that it would take about six months before
the virus grew strong enough to start damaging the system and that a
healthy victim could survive about 5-6 years, the girl died in four
months, perhaps more because of the shock.

We all have to be careful in public places. Creating awareness among
people can help save lives. Can one be infected with HIV by a mere poke
of a needle?

S. Dinesh Gopinath, IAS, Director of Medical & Research Division,
Chennai.

Dr G. Sathappan, Medical Officer, Occupational Health & Safety, The
Hindu, throws more light on this:


A RARE mode of transmission.

Needle stick/sharp injuries are a comparatively rare mode of
transmission. There are only few such cases reported in the world
despite the fact that millions of healthcare workers are knowingly or
unknowingly handling HIV infected individuals.

Despite such a low risk, the unrealistic fear remains a major hurdle in
extending healthcare to the infected individuals. The risk depends on
the concentration of the virus in those body fluids; the depth of
injury, the type of needle (bore) immunogenic status of the patient and
the precautions followed thereafter.

Just a mere prick is not proven to cause the spread of infection; the
needle should have adequate amount of blood or other body fluids and the
environment should be favourable to sustain the virus in that body fluid
in the syringe/needle. All viruses die on drying, that is, they require
the right medium for survival with adequate nutrients and temperature.





Anshul Kapoor | Sr. Software Engineer | Server Sentinel

Unisys Global Services - India | 'Purva Premier', 135/1, Residency Road,
Bangalore -560 025 |




THIS COMMUNICATION MAY CONTAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND/OR OTHERWISE PROPRIETARY
MATERIAL and is thus for use only by the intended recipient. If you
received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the e-mail
and its attachments from all computers.