Infection Risks to Patients from HIV-Infected Health Care Workers
Authors: Laurie M. Robert
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1996)

Letters15 January 1996Infection Risks to Patients from HIV-Infected Health Care WorkersLaurie M. Robert, MS, Mary E. Chamberland, MPH, and David M. Bell, MDLaurie M. Robert, MSCenters for Disease Control and Prevention; Atlanta, GA 30333Search for more papers by this author, Mary E. Chamberland, MPHCenters for Disease Control and Prevention; Atlanta, GA 30333Search for more papers by this author, and David M. Bell, MDCenters for Disease Control and Prevention; Atlanta, GA 30333Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-124-2-199601150-00029 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:The identification of HIV-seropositive patients during retrospective investigations of HIV-infected health care workers is not unexpected, given that approximately 1 in 250 persons in the United States has HIV infection. Higher rates of HIV infection would be expected for patients of health care workers who practice in settings such as correctional facilities or in urban areas with higher prevalences of HIV infection. In the investigations we summarized, most HIV-seropositive patients were either infected before being treated by the HIV-infected health care worker or had established risk factors for HIV infection (for example, male-to-male sexual contact). Patients with histories ...References1. Robert LM, Chamberland ME, Cleveland JL, Marcus R, Gooch BF, Srivastava PU, et al. Investigations of patients of health care workers infected with HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database. Ann Intern Med. 1995; 122:653-7. Google Scholar2. “Recommendations for preventing transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus to patients during exposure-prone invasive procedures. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1991; 40(RR-8):1-9.” Google Scholar3. Danila RN, MacDonald KL, Rhame FS, Moen ME, Reier DO, LeTourneau JC, et al. A look-back investigation of patients of an HIV-infected physician. Public health implications. N Engl J Med. 1991; 325:1406-11. Google Scholar4. AIDS Committee of the Society for Hospital Epidemiology of America. “Look-back” notification for HIV/HBV-positive healthcare workers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1992; 13:482-4. Google Scholar5. Mishu B, Schaffner W. HIV-infected surgeons and dentists. Looking back and looking forward [Editorial]. JAMA. 1993; 269:1843-4. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Laurie M. Robert, MS; Mary E. Chamberland, MPH; David M. Bell, MDAffiliations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Atlanta, GA 30333 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 15 January 1996Volume 124, Issue 2Page: 277-278KeywordsGeneticsHealth careHealth care facilitiesHealth care providersHIVHIV infectionsInfectious disease controlMedical risk factorsPatientsUrban areas ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 15 January 1996 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1996 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...