Yale University

Can HIV-1-contaminated syringes be disinfected? Implications for transmission among injection drug users.

TitleCan HIV-1-contaminated syringes be disinfected? Implications for transmission among injection drug users.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2001
AuthorsAbdala, N., A. A. Gleghorn, J. M. Carney, and R. Heimer
JournalJournal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)
Volume28
Issue5
Pagination487-94
Date Published2001 Dec 15
ISSN1525-4135
KeywordsDisinfectants, Equipment Contamination, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Sodium Hypochlorite, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Syringes, Time Factors
AbstractBleaching of syringes has been advocated to prevent HIV-1 transmission among injection drug users (IDUs). Bleach is frequently distributed by needle exchange, outreach, and educational programs targeting IDUs. We applied a sensitive HIV-1 microculture assay to determine the effectiveness of bleach in disinfecting syringes contaminated with HIV-1. This study demonstrates that in a laboratory environment designed to replicate injection behaviors, undiluted bleach is highly effective in reducing the viability of HIV-1 even after minimal contact time. However, it did not reduce the HIV-1 recovery to zero. Furthermore, three washes with water were nearly as effective as a single rinse with undiluted bleach in reducing the likelihood that contaminated syringes harbored viable HIV-1. Given the reality that IDUs share syringes and may not have access to a new, sterile syringe for each injection, the results suggest that they should be encouraged through harm reduction interventions to clean their syringes, preferably with undiluted bleach.
DOI10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03149.x
Alternate JournalJ. Acquir. Immune Defic. Syndr.

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