There is little to no risk of getting HIV from the activities below. For transmission to occur, something very unusual would have to happen. Oral Sex Oral sex involves putting the mouth on the penis (fellatio), vagina or vulva (cunnilingus), or anus (rimming). Factors that may affect the risk of getting HIV include: Ejaculation in the mouth with oral ulcers, bleeding gums, or genital sores. The presence of other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). You can get other STDs from oral sex. If you get feces in your mouth during anilingus, you can get hepatitis A and hepatitis B, parasites like Giardia, and bacteria like Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E. coli. Workplace The most likely cause is injury with a contaminated needle or another sharp object. Careful practice of standard precautions protects patients and health care personnel from possible occupational HIV transmission. Medical Care The US blood supply and donated organs and tissues are thoroughly tested. It is very unlikely that you would get HIV from blood transfusions, blood products, or organ and tissue transplants. You cannot get HIV from donating blood. Blood collection procedures are highly regulated and safe. Food Contamination The only known cases are among infants. Contamination occurs when blood from a caregiver’s mouth mixes with pre-chewed food and an infant eats it. You can’t get HIV from consuming food handled by someone with HIV. Biting and Spitting The small number of documented cases have involved severe trauma with extensive tissue damage and the presence of blood. This rare transmission can occur through contact between broken skin, wounds, or mucous membranes and blood or body fluids from a person who has HIV. There is no risk of transmission through unbroken skin. There are no documented cases of HIV being transmitted through spitting as HIV is not transmitted through saliva. Deep, Open-Mouth Kissing Very rarely, transmission has occurred if both partners have sores or bleeding gums. You can’t transmit HIV through closed-mouth or “social” kissing with someone who has HIV. You can’t transmit HIV through saliva. Touching Touching involves putting your hands, other body parts, or sex toys on your partner’s vagina, penis, or anus. The only possible risk would be if body fluids from a person with HIV touch the mucous membranes or damaged tissue of someone without HIV. Mucous membranes are found inside the rectum, vagina, opening of the penis, and mouth. Damaged tissue could include cuts, sores, or open wounds. You can get or transmit some other STDs (like human papillomavirus or HPV, genital herpes, and syphilis) through skin-to-skin contact. If you touch someone’s anus and get feces on your hands or fingers, you can also get or transmit hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Infection with parasites like Giardia and bacteria like Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and E. coli can also occur. Tattoos and Body Piercings There are no known cases in the United States of anyone getting HIV this way. It is possible to get HIV from tattooing or body piercing if the equipment or ink has someone else’s blood in it. This is more likely to happen when the person doing the procedure is unlicensed because they may use unsterilized needles or ink. If you get a tattoo or a body piercing, be sure that the person doing the procedure is properly licensed and uses only new or sterilized equipment.