@article {1158,
	title = {Can HIV-1-contaminated syringes be disinfected? Implications for transmission among injection drug users.},
	journal = {Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999)},
	volume = {28},
	year = {2001},
	month = {2001 Dec 15},
	pages = {487-94},
	abstract = {Bleaching 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.},
	keywords = {Disinfectants, Equipment Contamination, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Sodium Hypochlorite, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Syringes, Time Factors},
	issn = {1525-4135},
	doi = {10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03149.x},
	author = {Abdala, N and Gleghorn, A A and Carney, J M and Heimer, R}
}
