What is the risk for getting HIV after a needlestick, an injury with a sharp instrument, or a splash?
The average infection risk from injuries involving HIV-infected needles or other sharp instruments is about 1 in 300, or 0.3%. However, some specific factors are associated with increased risk: an exposure to blood from a terminally-ill AIDS patient an exposure caused by a needle which was used in a blood vessel an exposure caused by a visibly-bloody device a deep puncture The risk for infection from a bloody splash to mucous membranes or to open skin is very low – less than 1 in 1000.
