Prospective study of clinical, laboratory, and ancillary staff with accidental exposures to blood or body fluids from patients infected with HIV

Abstract

In a prospective study of 150 health care workers in the United Kingdom who had been accidentally exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus no evidence of transmission was found. Larger studies in the United States and anecdotal accounts in publications from other countries confirm that the risk of occupational infection is very low. Health care workers must adopt safe procedures at all times, however, to avoid exposure to infection.

PIP: Between January 1st and December 31st, 1986, 150 health workers were accidentally exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus in the United Kingdom. Altogether 95 (63%) of these occurred in hospitals in the 4 Thames health regions. Exposures were reported in 41 male and 109 female health care workers. There were 91 (61%) nurses, 32 (21%) doctors, 8 (5%) laboratory workers, and 19 (13%) others. There were 76 needlestick and other injuries from sharp instruments. In 67% of the injuries there was exposure to blood and in 16%, to urine. 109 health care workers were followed for more than 1 year, and 41 for between 1 and 12 months, median 9 months. No seroconversions were observed in these health care workers. Larger studies in the US and anecdotal accounts in publications from other countries confirm that the risk of occupational infection is very low. Health care workers must adopt safe procedures at all times, however, to avoid exposure to infection.