Human immunodeficiency virus infections: considerations for health care workers

• Published in: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine (1925) Vol. 64; no. 3; pp. 203 - 215
• Main Authors: Wormser, G P, Joline, C, Sivak, S L, Arlin, Z A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States New York Academy of Medicine 01.04.1988
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - transmission; Health Manpower; HIV Seropositivity - transmission; human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Occupational Diseases - transmission; United States; United States
• ISSN: 0028-7091

Health care workers are at low risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection from their patients. Seroprevalence rates for HIV antibody among health care workers without parenteral exposure are comparable to those of American blood donors. Available data suggest, however, that health care workers with needle stick injuries from HIV infected patients are more than 10-fold more likely to be seropositive than others. Utilization of blood and body fluid precautions with particular attention to avoiding needle stick accidents is sufficient to prevent transmission of HIV to health care workers, who are also at low risk for contracting other infections from HIV infected patients. Emergence of tuberculosis in certain patient populations with HIV infection may be an important concern and deserves further study.