Preventing Infections From Pets: A Guide for People With HIV Infection

This brochure provides information on the prevention of infections from pets for persons with HIV. Most persons with HIV can keep their pets but they should know the health risks associated with owning a pet or caring for animals. Animals may carry diseases that if passed to a person with HIV can result in diarrhea, brain infections, and skin lesions. To protect themselves against infections spread by animals, persons with HIV should always wash their hands well with soap and water after playing with or caring for animals; monitor what their pet eats and drinks; never handle an animal with diarrhea, an animal that appears unhealthy, or a stray animal; and never touch the stool of any animal. If persons with HIV must clean a cat's litter box themselves, vinyl or household cleaning gloves need to be worn and hands need to be washed well immediately after changing the litter. Persons with HIV should have their cat's nails clipped to avoid scratches, never allow a pet to lick them in the face or on an open wound, never kiss their animal, keep fleas off their pets, avoid reptiles and exotic pets, and wear vinyl cleaning gloves when cleaning aquariums or animal cages. These same precautions should be used when visiting anyone with pets and apply to children with HIV. Jobs working with animals also carry a risk for infection, and extra precautions may be necessary. In general, a pet should be in overall good health, and special tests are not required unless the animal has diarrhea or looks sick. Sources for locating referrals, materials, and information on HIV/AIDS, treatment, clinical trials, and social security benefits are provided.