Transmission of HIV Possibly Associated with Exposure of Mucous Membrane to Contaminated Blood

Abstract:
This report describes an instance of a woman who became infected with HIV from her infected male partner. Although the exact route of transmission could not be determined, most likely the woman became infected through mucous membrane exposure to the man's saliva that was contaminated by blood from his bleeding gums or fluid from undetected oral lesions. Such exposure may have occurred during "deep kissing;" the woman's inflamed gingival mucosa (a dental condition) might have been a contributing factor. The report lists reasons that exposure to saliva uncontaminated with blood is considered to be a rare mode of HIV transmission. It also notes that while occasional instances of oral sex did not reportedly involve the exchange of semen or blood, these routes of transmission cannot be definitively excluded. Although sexual exposure through vaginal intercourse is plausible for the case described, other studies of couples in which only one partner is HIV-infected indicate that HIV transmission is rare when heterosexual couples use condoms consistently during vaginal intercourse. The findings of this investigation underscore the multiple routes by which exposure to infectious body fluids can occur among sexually intimate persons. The CDC recommends that persons choosing to have sex with HIV-infected persons or persons with unknown HIV serostatus should correctly use latex condoms (for men) during each act of intercourse and should avoid any other exposure to potentially infectious body fluids, including blood, semen, or any other body fluid visibly contaminated with blood.

Publication: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), Vol. 46, No. 27, pp. 620-623


Date Published: 7/11/1997

Pages: 4

Comments:
Single copies of this report are available until 7/11/98 from the CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse: 800-458-5231 or 301-217-0023.

Location Code: 14133