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Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 3/30/2004


Question
can AIDS/HIV be contracted from dirty manicure equipment?

Answer
The likelihood of HIV transmission via manicure equipment is small, but not impossible. For it to occur, the equipment would had to have cut an HIV+ person recently, and their blood would had to have stayed wet on the equipment. HIV does not survive long outside of the human body. Then, if they were unsterilized, that blood would had to have entered your body. The chance that this chain of events happened is small.

If you are concerned about a particular business, I would suggest calling and asking whether they sterilize their equipment or not.  

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Volunteer

Kristen Brannock, MPH

Expertise

I can answer questions concerning HIV infection and AIDS. This includes ways it can and cannot be transmitted, how it is treated, how it affects the body and methods to protect yourself. I can also answer questions concerning safer sex and contraception.

Experience

I trained with the Red Cross to become an HIV/AIDS counselor and was a member of CARES- Carolina AIDS Resource Education Service in college. I have an MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education and conduct research in the field of HIV prevention. I also take continuing education courses in HIV/STI prevention periodically.

Education/Credentials
Master of Public Health Health Behavior and Health Education UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health (formerly UNC-CH School of Public Health)

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