Preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections
Transmission during pregnancy
Antiviral therapy during pregnancy can significantly lower the chance that the HIV will be passed to the infant before, during, or after birth. The treatment is most effective if it is started as early as possible during pregnancy. However, there are still health benefits if treatment is begun during labor or shortly after the baby is born. This treatment has been shown to be safe and effective for the mother and her baby.
Delivering the baby by cesarean section has been shown to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV to the newborn. However, this is not the standard preventative care for HIV-infected pregnant women. It should only be considered in certain clinical circumstances (such as for patients who have a very high viral overload or for patients who do not take their medications exactly as prescribed.
Mothers with STIs should not breastfeed their newborn(s) because infections, such as HIV, may be transmitted to their babies. In addition, many medications used to treat STIs may be excreted in the breast milk and cause harm to the baby.
Safe sex
Avoid unprotected sexual contact. Having multiple sexual partners may also increases a patient's the risk of developing STIs if not using condoms.
Wear gloves when in contact with blood or other body fluids that could possibly contain blood, such as urine, feces, or vomit.
Know your partner and his/her STI status and health.
Avoid risky behavior
Do not share needles or syringes.
Practices that increase the likelihood of blood contact, such as the sharing of razors, toothbrushes, and nail clippers, should be avoided.
Safety precautions
Cuts, scrapes, sores, or breaks on the exposed skin of both the caregiver and patient should be covered with bandages.
Wash any part of the body that comes into contact with blood or other body fluids. Surfaces that have been tainted with blood should be disinfected with antibacterial soap.
Females should not douche because it decreases the number of good bacteria in the vagina. As a result, douching may increase the risk of infection.
Needles and other sharp instruments should be used only when medically necessary and handled appropriately.
In 1985, the CDC issued a list of routine precautions for all personal-service workers, such as hairdressers, barbers, cosmetologists, and massage therapists, to take. Instruments that penetrate the skin, such as tattoo and acupuncture needles or ear piercing guns, should either be used once and disposed of or thoroughly sterilized. Instruments that are not meant to penetrate the skin, but may come in contact with blood (such as razors), should not be shared unless thoroughly sterilized.
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