Although HIV has been transmitted between family members in a household setting, this type of transmission is very rare. These transmissions are believed to have resulted from contact between skin or mucous membranes and infected blood. To prevent even such rare occurrences, precautions should be taken in all settings, including the home, to prevent exposures to the blood of persons who are HIV infected, at risk for HIV infection, or whose infection and risk status are unknown. For example:
Gloves should be worn during contact with blood or other body fluids that could possibly contain visible blood, such as urine, feces, or vomit
Cuts, sores, or breaks on both the care giver’s and patient’s exposed skin should be covered with bandages
Hands and other parts of the body should be washed immediately after contact with blood or other body fluids, and surfaces soiled with blood should be disinfected appropriately
Practices that increase the likelihood of blood contact, such as sharing of razors and toothbrushes, should be avoided
Needles and other sharp instruments should be used only when medically necessary and handled according to recommendations for health-care settings (Do not put caps back on needles by hand or remove needles from syringes.)