Occupational HIV infection and health care workers in the tropics

A literature review revealed 33 reports of health care workers who have contracted HIV infection as a result of their work. Four of these were expatriate doctors who had worked in Africa. The commonest mode of transmission was needlestick injury, but several infections acquired through contact or sk...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inTropical doctor Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 28
Main Authors Veeken, H, Verbeek, J, Houweling, H, Cobelens, F
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.01.1991
Subjects
Health Manpower
HIV Infections - prevention & control
HIV Infections - transmission
HIV Seropositivity
Humans
Needles
Occupational Diseases - etiology
Occupational Diseases - prevention & control
Risk
Tropical Medicine
Hiv Infections > prevention and control
Arab Countries
Health
Physicians
Europe
Risk Factors
Africa
Viral Diseases
Biology
Hiv Infections > transmission
Delivery Of Health Care
Diseases
Western Europe
Saudi Arabia
Netherlands
Developed Countries
Literature Review
Asia
Health Personnel
Western Asia
Developing Countries
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Summary:A literature review revealed 33 reports of health care workers who have contracted HIV infection as a result of their work. Four of these were expatriate doctors who had worked in Africa. The commonest mode of transmission was needlestick injury, but several infections acquired through contact or skin or mucous membrane with infected blood have been reported. In this paper we outline how the risk of HIV infection in a health care worker can be estimated for a given number of exposures. The formula is based on the known likelihood of transmission per needlestick, the seroprevalence rate among patients, and the number of needlestick injuries that occur. We also suggest a list of measures by which the risk of HIV transmission to hospital staff can be minimized.
ISSN:0049-4755
DOI:10.1177/004947559102100112