I do get questions regarding HIV TRANSMISSION through BODY
PIERCING & TATTOOING.
IS THAT REALLY POSSIBLE?
There wasn’t any documented/recorded case in the Philippines
of a Person Living with HIV (PLHIV) who claims that he/she got it from a BODY
PIERCE or TATTOO.
A risk of HIV transmission does exist if instruments
contaminated with blood are either not sterilized or disinfected or are used
inappropriately between clients. It is ideally recommended that single-use
instruments intended to penetrate the skin be used only once, then
disposed of. Reusable instruments or devices that penetrate the skin
and/or contact a client's blood should be thoroughly cleaned and
sterilized between clients.
Personal service workers who do tattooing or body piercing
should be educated about how HIV is transmitted and take precautions to prevent
transmission of HIV and other blood-borne infections in their settings.
If you are considering getting a tattoo or having your body
pierced, ask staff at the establishment what procedures they use to prevent the
spread of HIV and other blood-borne infections, such as the hepatitis B virus.
Contaminated Blood does pose a HIGH RISK for HIV transmission
but also consider the PRINCIPLES OF HIV TRANSMISSION:
EXIT – the virus gets out of the body either through an open
wound, cuts, or sores.
SUFFICIENT AMOUNT – there should be a sufficient amount of
the virus in order to cause an infection.
SURVIVE – the virus should survive. (The HUMAN BODY is a best
place for VIRUS to thrive.
* HIV is very fragile once it is exposed to the outside environment
it easily dies. Sunlight, Hot/Cold Temperatures, Acidic Environment KILLS THE
VIRUS.
ENTRY – there should be an entry point for the VIRUS to go inside
the body. It could be an open wound, cut or sores.
ALL 4 PRINCIPLES SHOULD BE PRESENT FOR TRANSMISSION TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
Source:
JaKe Positive. BE SAFE! +)
