Which history places a client in the high-risk category for contracting HIV?

• A. A history of unprotected sex
• B. A history of intravenous drug use in the past year
• C. Employment in healthcare
• D. A recent history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Answer: (B)

A history of intravenous drug use in the past year places a client in the high-risk category for contracting HIV due to the behaviors often associated with sharing needles and syringes. Intravenous drug users frequently share equipment to inject drugs, which can lead to direct bloodstream exposure to the virus from an infected individual. This method of transmission is highly efficient and poses a significant risk for acquiring HIV.

While the other options also indicate risk factors—such as unprotected sex, recent STIs, and certain occupational exposures—intravenous drug use specifically heightens the likelihood of HIV transmission through shared needles, which is considered one of the most critical routes for the spread of the virus. Each behavior carries its own risk profile, but the immediacy and effectiveness of needle sharing in the context of drug use distinctly categorize it as a high-risk activity for HIV infection.