Frequency of Nosocomial Transmission of HIV Infection among Health Care Workers

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Abstract
To the Editor: Although there is no question that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can be transmitted from infected patients to health care workers, the number of reported instances is extremely small. Documented seroconversion has occurred after direct contact with blood or a bloody body fluid, either through needle-stick injury1 2 3 or by exposure of a mucous membrane or nonintact skin.4 Needle-stick injury is likely to be the most important risk event for health care workers, yet these preventable accidents remain surprisingly common. At least 863 health care workers have had parenteral exposure to body fluids from HIV-infected patients (the vast . . .