14 DAY TRIAL // A recent paper in the journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses documents the case of a 22-year-old woman who appears to have contracted HIV after using contaminated manicure instruments.
It is understood that the woman, whose identity is yet to be disclosed to the public, shared the manicure instruments in question with a cousin, who was only found to have HIV after the 22-year-old had contracted the virus as well.
How the young woman became sick
It is understood that the 22-year-old and her cousin shared the same set of manicure instruments for several years before the latter was found to carry HIV in her body and the two women each got their own set.
Still, it appears that, by the time the cousin was found to be infected with HIV, the 22-year-old had already contracted the virus. Thus, when subjected to a series of tests, she was found to have advanced HIV infection.
Having failed to pin down any risk factors that might have explained how the woman was exposed to the virus and ended up contracting it, scientists concluded that, all things considered, the contaminated manicure instruments were to blame.
More so given the fact that, as shown by another round of investigations, the HIV virus in the body of the 22-year-old and that in the body of her cousin had a common viral ancestor, EurekAlert informs.
This transmission is a very rare event
As detailed in the journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently lists several potential alternative sources of HIV infection.
Although various utensils that can facilitate blood-blood contact are included on this list, i.e. needles used for acupuncture, tattoos or administering drugs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not mention manicure instruments.
Thus, it is argued that this instance of HIV transmission by means of contaminated manicure instruments is a very rare event. Hence, specialists say that there is no reason to worry about coming into contact with folks infected with HIV.
“This transmission of HIV by shared manicure equipment is a very rare event that should serve not to make people fear HIV or contact with HIV-infected people. HIV is not transmitted by casual contact, such as sharing eating utensils, or drinking from the same water glass,” says researcher Brian Foley.
Then again, it might not be such a bad idea if people were to pay closer attention when sharing instruments that can facilitate blood-blood contact with other folks. This is because, apart from HIV, all sorts of other viruses and bacteria can be passed on from one individual to another in this manner.
“It should make people aware that sharing any utensils with possible blood-blood contact, such as needles used for drugs, tattoos, or acupuncture can result in transmission of viruses such as hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV,” explains specialist Brian Foley.
Furthermore, “In addition, there are other common viruses and bacteria that can also be spread by sharing equipment without proper disinfection between users.”
