The risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) transmission following human bite is important to many groups of people. Meanwhile, the pandemic of HIV/AIDS continues unabated, with perhaps more than 3 million new infections last year alone. A review of the literature concerning human bite injuries and HIV was performed to examine current opinion regarding the transmission of HIV via this route. It is concluded that human bite contaminated with infected blood carry a small, but definite, risk of transmitting this important life-threatening disease.


Key Words: HIV, Human bite, Risk


Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. 2004; 5(2): 160 – 162.