Transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in health-care settings worldwide.

  • 1 January 1989
    • journal article
    • review article
    • Vol. 67  (5) , 577-82
Abstract
Based on the information available, transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can and does occur in health-care settings. No cases of such transmission have been reported from an infected health-care worker to a patient. Transmission of HIV from an infected patient to a health-care worker has been documented after parenteral or mucous-membrane exposure to blood. However, this risk is less than 1%, is limited to exposure to blood, and can be further minimized through adherence to routine infection control measures. Patient-to-patient transmission through invasive equipment or through HIV-infected blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or semen also occurs but can be prevented by proper sterilization of instruments and through donor-deferral, donor screening, and heat treatment of Factors VIII or IX to inactivate the HIV. In health-care settings, prevention of HIV transmission requires education of all health-care workers and ancillary staff, provision of necessary equipment, and strict adherence to general infection control practices.