A CO-WORKER IS HIV INFECTED

Learning that someone you work with has human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, should not be alarming. Many people at your work site may react with fear, and others may feel helpless and not know what to do. Knowing more about HIV will help everyone feel more comfortable. Here are the facts.

HIV is not transmitted by day-to-day contact in the workplace or in social situations. This includes casual contact such as:

shaking hands or hugging
sneezing or coughing
touching something that the person has handled such as doorknobs, paper, pens, or equipment
sharing food, drink, or workspace
using the toilet, telephone, or drinking fountain after the infected person has used them

HIV is passed to others by:

direct intimate contact with HIV-infected body fluids, such as blood, vaginal secretions, or semen
having oral sex with an HIV-positive partner
an HIV-infected mother to her baby during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding
having sexual intercourse without a latex or plastic condom with an HIV-positive partner and
HIV-contaminated needles from drug use, tattoos, or body piercing

Most people do not work in places where there is risk for blood-to-blood exposure. Those who are at risk for such exposure at work include healthcare workers, laboratory staff, and public safety workers who are in contact with blood on a daily basis.

Very few people have been infected with HIV through occupational exposure. HIV cannot live for long outside of the body. Everyone should use common sense when cleaning up body fluids of any kind. This will protect you from organisms such as hepatitis, as well as from HIV. If there is an accident at your work site, use latex gloves and a 10 percent bleach or virus killing solution to clean up the spill. Wash your hands thoroughly afterward.

Learning the truth about HIV will help you learn that you cannot get HIV just by working with an infected person. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects people with HIV, especially from employment discrimination because they have HIV. More information about this law and related services can be obtained from the U.S. Department of Justice by calling (800) 514-0301 or visit their website at www.ada.gov

People who are living with HIV face many difficulties. By reaching out with a kind word or touch you can make a big difference. This may put your co-workers more at ease. Your attitude can make your job site a more supportive place. If you are still concerned about working with someone with HIV, contact your company nurse, your local health department, and your local AIDS organization.

For more information on HIV and AIDS, call the 24-hour National STD and AIDS Hotline at (800) 227-8922 or (800) 342-2437. The Spanish speaking Hotline at (800) 344-7432 is available between the hours of 8:00 AM and 2:00 AM eastern standard time 7 days a week. The TTY line for the hearing impaired is (800) 243-7889 between 10:00 am and 10:00 PM Monday through Friday eastern standard time. These hotlines are provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Information can also be obtained from their website at www.cdc.gov.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIL File INFE4611.RF2 VRS# 4611 Data Version 7.0