How HIV Spreads

can you get hiv if someone spits in your eye
can you get hiv if someone spits in your eye

Extremely rare ways HIV might be transmitted

There is little to no risk of getting HIV from the activities below. For transmission to occur, something very unusual would have to happen.

Oral sex

Oral sex involves putting the mouth on the penis (fellatio), vagina or vulva (cunnilingus), or anus (rimming). Ejaculation in the mouth with oral ulcers, bleeding gums, or genital sores or the presence of other STIs) can increase the chances of HIV transmission. You can get other STIs from oral sex.

Workplace

The most likely cause is injury with a contaminated needle or another sharp object. Careful practice of standard precautions protects patients and health care personnel from possible occupational HIV transmission.

Medical care

The US blood supply and donated organs and tissues are thoroughly tested. It is very unlikely that you would get HIV from blood donation or transfusion, blood products, or organ and tissue transplants. You cannot get HIV from donating blood. Blood collection procedures are highly regulated and safe.

Food

The only known cases of HIV transmission through food have been when blood from a caregiver’s mouth mixed with pre-chewed food and an infant has eaten it. You cannot get HIV from consuming food handled by someone with HIV.

Biting

This rare transmission has only occurred through contact between broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes and blood or body fluids from a person who has HIV. The small number of documented cases have involved severe bite trauma with extensive tissue damage and the presence of blood.

There is no chance of transmission if skin is unbroken or through spitting. HIV is not transmitted through saliva.

Deep, open-mouth kissing

Very rarely, transmission has occurred if both partners had sores or bleeding gums. You cannot transmit HIV through closed-mouth kissing. You cannot transmit HIV through saliva alone.

Tattoos, body piercings, and cosmetic procedures

The only known cases of HIV transmission through cosmetic procedures have been from unsafe infection control procedures involving injections. Although there are no known cases of anyone getting HIV from tattoos or body piercings, it is possible to get HIV this way if the equipment or ink contains blood from someone with HIV. Be sure the tattoo, piercing, or cosmetic procedure facility is properly licensed and uses only new or sterilized equipment.