Question

Rank in order the risk of HIV transmission in the following scenarios:

A) Needlestick from a large-bore needle used on an HIV-positive patient
B) Medium volume of HIV-positive patient's nonbloody saliva in a health care personnel's eye
C) Small amount of an HIV-status unknown patient's blood splashing into a health care personnel's eye

Answer 1

Needlestick from a large-bore needle poses the highest risk of HIV transmission, followed by small blood exposure from an unknown HIV status patient, and the least risk is from exposure to no bloody saliva in the eyes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The risk of HIV transmission in the provided scenarios can be ranked from highest to lowest risk as follows:

1. Needlestick from a large-bore needle used on an HIV-positive patient
2. Small amount of an HIV-status unknown patient's blood splashing into a health care personnel's eye
3. Medium volume of HIV-positive patient's nonbloody saliva in a health care personnel's eye

Needlestick injuries are a well-known route of HIV transmission, especially when involving a large-bore needle which may carry more infected blood. The exposure to HIV through a small amount of blood is still a risk if the source patient's status is unknown, especially if the blood comes into contact with mucous membranes. Lastly, while saliva can contain HIV, the risk of transmission through saliva is extremely low unless it enters the bloodstream.