Do the AIDS "germs" die in the air?

I am working at a nursing home part time and 3 of the residents have AIDS. They can't tell you that when you get hired because of HIPPA and what not, but they also have no information about it available on hand. So, heres my question.....

I am always VERY cautious when working with them, but one of them I am close to. Should I be worried about catching it from touching her wheelchair, or things in her room? I ALWAYS wash my hands after leaving, but I just wanna make sure. Thanks.

Great question, and Thank You for asking because you care about this person. No you will not get HIV from this person. IF their blood was on something, please use universal precautions (wearing gloves) when touching it, but if her blood was on something and it dried the HIV would die as well, but HIV weakens if in the air and it does die.

People become infected by HIV by it being in their body. The anus and vagina if exposed to HIV will keep it inside the body and alive for a LONG period of time. Both locations are dark, moist, closed which allows the HIV to stay alive.

But in the air, it will weaken an dye.

Thank You for your compassion and caring. We need a lot more people like you!

Aids is passed by intercourse or blood to blood contact.

I hope you're only joking.

There's no such thing as AIDS germs.

you can only get it from blood contact or w/e

There is no such thing as AIDS germs.

No...if you have sex with them then you can get it. Not from touching their wheelchair.

don't have sex with her of swap body fluids and you will be fine, you cant get aids from the air or any surfaces.

HIV can only be transmitted directly from body fluid to body fluid. You don't have to worry about touching things in their room. Use universal precautions like you always would.

the AIDS VIRUS, not germ can not live in air. It can survive only 7 minutes in open air. I think that is an over estiment.

Touching a Patch of dried blood Will not get you infected. touching sulivia will not get you infected. If they spit in your mouth (i know thats not likly) you will not get infected.

Fortunately, the AIDS virus is quite weak outside the body and can only survive for a few seconds. This doesn't mean you should be less cautious, just not so paranoid about catching it from touching objects.

You really need to research more. You can't get the AIDS virus from touching something they've touched. You could share a glass and never get it unless the person spit in it, (gross, I know) and you had a gaping wound in your mouth.

Be careful if you have to assist them with an open cut, or if you handle any needles they've been injected with...but the virus has to get into your blood stream in order for you to contract it.

The aids virus" is sturdy enough inside a body, but not outside in the rest of the world. If the virus should be coughed into the air, or spilled onto a surface like a toilet seat, it would
not survive long enough to infect anybody." Basically when the bodily fluid dries the virus is expected to die as well.

But bodily fluid precautions should be in place. Wear gloves, if patient bleeds on a hard surface clean with bleach and water. All bodily fluids except tears, sweat and saliva have been proven to transmit aids.

OK i too work in nursing and we are suppose to treat every one as if they are infected with something bleach and antibiotics cant cure.i have read alot on this and found web sites all say the same it dies almost instantly the air hits it. but just to protect your self from catching and or spreading that is why we use simple precautions, rather it be gloves using the proper way to dispose and hand washing or going as far as needing gowns and masks. i always wash my hands before i put a glove on and after i remove my gloves wash my hands and sanitize my hands with hand sanitizer.lol and alot of ppl on here have no clue we dont just touch wheel chairs we are bathing we are shaving we are wiping butts brushing teeth we are tending to the residents every needs.i have a resident that has hiv and i know they say we cant my resident is very sweet but when it comes to some things even using procautions i still worry what if. but i think that will always be there the fear of catching it i know you dont want it and i know i dont want it. but you said wheel chairs and things in there room you mean house keeping? well where i work the aids clean up the body fluids the house keeping just disinfects

the virus itself only lives outside the body a few seconds until it dries, so yes, when air gets to it and it dries, it's dead.
However, in cases where, say, virus tainted blood is wet and stuck in a mucus membrane (i.e eye, mouth, etc...) it's possible to spread. Unless this person has wet blood or bodily fluids all over her room, I would say it's highly unlikely. Just use your universal precautions.

No. You can only contract it through intercourse or touching her blood to your open wounds/blood.
Be careful, but you will not get it through casual contact or "the air". If you need to clean up any of her bodily fluids, THEN put on gloves.
:)

no such thing

I was once informed that the HIV virus dies upon air contact, but a friend of mine got into an argument about it in a hospital and asked a doctor and they said they believe it does die, but were unsure how fast.

You'll be just fine.
(suggestion:
read up on HIV and how it is transmitted.
I find it hard to believe the Nursing Home you're employed at wouldn't answer general questions about HIV, or AIDS, or even, your concerns, for that matter.)
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