Q: My mother is a nurse and a needle from an AIDS infected patient accidently pricked her finger. She is using the antiviral medication, but I want to know what are the chances of her acquiring the HIV infection?

A:If she started the treatment (PEP or Post Exposure Prophylaxis) available free to all health professionals, soon after the needle prick injury, there is almost no chance that she will be infected. Even without treatment, the global statistics show that the probability of infection from a needle prick involving a known HIV positive person is only between, 0.3 % and 0.45%.