Question

A long-term patient on the HIV/AIDS unit will be released from the hospital next week. He will live with his sister and her children until he is strong enough to manage in his own apartment. The patient and his sister are concerned about protecting the 10- and 5-year-old children. The entire family needs instructions on how to manage an infectious disease patient in their home. What can you teach this family about Standard Precautions in the home?

Answer 1

The human immunodeficiency viruses

The human immunodeficiency viruses are two species of Lentivirus that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, a condition in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive.

Anyone can get HIV from contact with infected blood, semen, or vaginal fluids. Most people get the virus by having unprotected sex with someone who has HIV. Another common way of getting it is by sharing drug needles with someone who is infected with HIV.

Standard precautions in the home

People with HIV can live at home and maintain a normal social life. Since the virus is not spread by casual (i.e., non sexual) household contact, family members, roommates, and visitors are not at risk of becoming infected.

The following information is provided to clarify what should and should not be done in living with someone with HIV. You will see that most of it is just good hygiene practices.

Hand washing is an effective way to prevent the spread of any germs. Wash hands with soap and water before preparing food, before eating, and after using the toilet. This is to protect both the infected and uninfected family members – remember that a person living with HIV may have a weak immune system and therefore may be more likely to catch any type of infection from another person.

Personal Articles such as toothbrushes, razors and razor blades should not be shared among household members. These may become soiled with blood and could spread germs that may cause many illnesses.

Bathrooms Surfaces (e.g. floors, countertops, sinks, showers, bathtubs) visibly soiled with blood or excretions should be cleaned with a household detergent or disinfectant.

Waste disposal :- A separate container, lined with a plastic bag, should be available for waste such as dressings, tissues and other disposable items soiled with blood from an infected person.

Normal household waste can be disposed of without additional precautions.

No special precaution is necessary for normal laundry.

Socializing :- Infected persons can maintain a normal social life. No special precautions are required when visiting friends, eating in restaurants or engaging in casual day to day contact with others. Normal casual contact, such as kissing and hugging, does not pose any danger of transmission.