HIV and sharing needles
If you inject yourself with drugs, some of your blood will get on the needle and into the syringe. HIV can stay in the small amount of blood that remains on a needle after it's used.
If someone else then uses the same needle or syringe, there's a chance that they'll get infected with HIV.1 About 1 in 4 people who have HIV got it this way.2
Sources for the information on this page:
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. How HIV causes AIDS. November 2004. Available at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/howhiv.htm (accessed on 19 June 2008).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV prevention strategic plan through 2005. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/prev-strat-plan.pdf (accessed on 20 June 2008).
This information was last updated in Aug 01, 2008
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This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved. |
