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Acute HIV infection - Prevention

Alternative Names

Primary HIV infection; HIV seroconversion syndrome; Acute retroviral syndrome; HIV infection - acute

Prevention:

For a comprehensive discussion, see the prevention section in AIDS.

Safer sex behaviors may reduce the risk of getting the infection. There is still a risk of getting infected with HIV, even if you practice "safe sex," because condoms can break. Abstinence is the only sure way to prevent sexual transmission of the HIV virus.

General guidelines:

  • Do not have unprotected sexual intercourse with numerous partners or anyone who has multiple partners, uses IV drugs, or that has or may be infected with AIDS.
  • Avoid injection drug use. If you do use such drugs, do not share needles or syringes.
  • People with AIDS or who have had positive HIV antibody tests can pass the disease on to others and should not donate blood, plasma, body organs, or sperm. Do not exchange body fluids during sexual activity.

People who are at risk for HIV infection should have regular testing to ensure early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

  • Reviewed last on: 12/1/2009
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Masur H, Healey L, Hadigan C. Treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 412.

Sax PE, Walker BD. Immunopathogenesis of human immunodeficiency infection. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 408.

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