Surveillance of HIV Infection and Zidovudine Use among Health Care Workers after Occupational Exposure to HIV-Infected Blood

Abstract

The risk for HIV seroconversion after percutaneous exposure to HIV-infected blood is 0.36%, which is similar to previous estimates. Zidovudine is used after exposure by a sizable proportion of health care workers enrolled in the project despite frequent, minor, associated symptoms. Documented failures of postexposure zidovudine prophylaxis, including in one worker enrolled in this study, indicate that if zidovudine is protective, any protection afforded is not absolute. Postexposure zidovudine, if used, requires careful consideration of possible risks and benefits.

Safelon—a new device to reduce needle‐stick injuries during intravenous cannulation

“…[3,6]. Up to 90% of currently documented cases of nosocomial transmission of hepatitis B and HIV are from needle-stick events [7], but the risk of seroconversion varies according to the nature of the incident and the pathogen concerned; estimates are up to 30% for hepatitis B [7] and 0.36% for HIV [8]. All health care staff should now be immunised against hepatitis B [4]; however, it has been estimated that over their professional lifetime, doctors are at substantially greater risk from HIV infection than has been generally assumed.…”

Occupationally Acquired Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection: National Case Surveillance Data During 20 Years of the HIV Epidemic in the United States

“…What is clear is that antiretroviral agents may cause adverse side effects but do not always prevent HIV infection following an occupational exposure. [33][34][35][36]43,57,58 Of the 57 healthcare workers with documented occupationally acquired HIV infection, 8 (14%) became infected despite taking antiretroviral PEP, one of whom received HAART. The emergence of antiretroviral drug-resistant strains of HIV certainly adds to the concern over the potential for PEP failure.…”

“…[33][34][35][36] The eighth healthcare worker, after sustaining a percutaneous injury with a 21-gauge needle from a patient with AIDS, received one dose of zidovudine approximately 2 hours after the exposure and declined further treatment (Table 4).…”

Management of needlestick injuries in general dental practice

“…Of over 6,955 occupational exposures to sharps contaminated with HIV infected blood there were 22 seroconversions or 0.32%. 19,20 There was a lower risk from mucocutaneous exposure (0.03%). 19,20 Many of the body fluids from which HIV has been isolated, such as saliva, have not as yet been implicated in occupational transmission.…”

“…19,20 There was a lower risk from mucocutaneous exposure (0.03%). 19,20 Many of the body fluids from which HIV has been isolated, such as saliva, have not as yet been implicated in occupational transmission. Furthermore the nature of injuries sustained in dental practice tend to be of relatively low risk (Table 1).…”