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HIV
and the Chain of Infection
HIV is a relatively fragile virus. It is
not spread by casual contact. It is not easy to "catch"; it
must be acquired. HIV is considered to be a fragile virus
when exposed to air and room temperatures. Hepatitis B (HBV)
and hepatitis C (HCV) are both considered "stronger" viruses
that can remain infectious for a longer period of time. When
these viruses are outside the human body, much depends on
environmental factors such as heat, cold, exposure to oxygen,
etc.). HBV and HCV will be discussed later in this course.
The Chain of Infection provides a
model for understanding how any infection is spread. All of
the components below must be present for an infection to occur.
The pathogenic microorganism is the microorganism
that causes infection such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and
parasites. There must be a sufficient dose of the organism,
that is enough concentration and amount of the organism to
cause infection.
The reservoir is the place where microorganisms live,
such as in humans and animals, in soils, food, plants, air
or water. The reservoir must meet the needs of the pathogen
in order for the pathogen to survive and multiply.
The means of escape are how the microorganism leaves
the reservoir.
The mode of transmission is how the microorganism
moves from place to place.
The means of entry is how the micro-organism enters
the host. There must be an adequate number of organisms to
cause infection.
The host susceptibility is the person who may become
infected.
All of these components together are considered to be the
"chain of infection". In the healthcare setting, all of these
factors come into play in the spread or the control of infection.
There are effective strategies of infection control that will
prevent infection transmission by interrupting one or more
links in the chain of infection (CDC, 2007).
The following is how the chain of infection relates to HIV/AIDS:
- The pathogenic microorganism is the human immune deficiency
virus, or HIV. A sufficient dose, or concentration and amount,
of HIV must be present for infection to occur.
- The reservoir is blood or body fluids of the "source"
patient; anyone with the virus can be an HIV source.
- The means of escape are how the blood or body fluids
of the source patient exit the source patient. This includes
infected blood, semen, vaginal secretions or breast milk.
- Mode of transmission is through direct contact with infected
blood or body fluids noted above.
- The means of entry is through the non-intact skin that
can occur through unprotected sex, injecting drug use, and
rarely splashing onto mucous membranes.
- Host susceptibility is the person who may now become infected
with HIV.
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Case Study
#1
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Mr. R. is a middle-aged, married, Caucasian, male
computer salesman who was transported to the ED after
being found unresponsive in his apartment by a neighbor.
Following a thorough exam the provider suspected a
possible drug overdose, which was confirmed when a
urine drug screen was positive for cocaine. Once stabilized,
the staff offered him an HIV test. Mr. R. adamantly
refused the test saying that he did not have any risk
factors. The provider suspected this was not true
and proceeded to perform a social history. Eventually,
the provider was able to solicit answers that indicate
Mr. R. is at risk for HIV: he has been sexually active
since high school and has not always used condoms;
while he is primarily heterosexual and has been married
for almost 15 years, he has occasionally located men
on the internet that he met for dates; he has never
used intravenous drugs, but does share straws when
using cocaine; he was incarcerated for assault when
he was younger, and while in jail had used a common
needle to give himself a tattoo.
Mr. R. thought that since he had only used drugs
with people he knew and had sex with healthy looking
men he did not have risk factors for HIV. He also
thought that someone would have found out he was HIV
positive during a recent hospital admission when he
had labs drawn daily prior to and after major surgery.
The provider convinced Mr. R. that he should have
an HIV test based on the results of his assessment.
He provided him with education focusing on routes
of transmission and appropriate barrier use. He explained
the risk of having unprotected sexual relations and
the fact that you cannot tell someone has HIV/AIDS
by the way they look. The test results were negative,
and the provider stressed the importance of retesting
if he engaged in more high risk behaviors.
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Continue to Part 2. HIV
Transmission and Infection Control, Con't.
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