Infection control at home

Abstract

By early 1986, over 16,000 people had been diagnosed with AIDS in the United States. It has been estimated that between 5 percent and 15 percent of these are hospitalized at any given time. Of the 80 to 95 percent who are living at home, some are experiencing few symptoms and independent in their activities of daily living. However, approximately 20 to 25 percent of those living at home experience chronicor acute symptoms associated with AIDS, requiring intervention by the home team. Home care agencies throughout the country have provided services to people with AIDS in the home utilizing basic, standard precautions for infection control.This article will provide information regarding disease transmission, both to allay the anxieties of home care personnel concerned about working with AIDS patients, and to enable them to utilize appropriate precautions to prevent the transmission of AIDS and the associated opportunistic infections.