Percutaneous injuries among health care workers: the real value of human immunodeficiency virus testing of "donor" blood
Article Abstract:
Health care workers have a small but possible risk of acquiring the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the agent that causes AIDS, as a result of job-related exposure to HIV-infected blood. The most common means of such exposure is through needlesticks, and one survey of senior residents in internal medicine showed a 72 percent rate of needlestick injuries during the years of training. Generally, patient's HIV status is unknown. The drug zidovudine is one of the few agents that has any effect against this virus, and some researchers have suggested that this drug be offered to all health care workers who sustain needlestick injuries involving patients with known HIV infection. Zidovudine has some serious side effects, making such a recommendation at least somewhat controversial. A theoretical model was devised to determine what course of action seems most reasonable in the case of needlestick injuries. Two possible options are to refrain from treating any one who has suffered a needlestick injury with zidovudine, and to treat all needlestick-injured health care workers with zidovudine. The risk of HIV infection in a health care worker following a needlestick injury involving an HIV-infected patient ranges from 0 to 1.82 percent. A presentation of the various treatment options was presented to some health care workers who might be at risk for needlestick injuries; their responses were evaluated. The most sensible course of action, according to the health care workers, would be to test the blood of the patient for HIV. This was seen as important for preserving the emotional state of the health care worker who had sustained the injury. Some of the health care workers would also prefer to be treated with zidovudine, despite the absence of proof that it is of significant value in preventing HIV transmission in needlestick injuries, and despite its side effect profile. The survey concluded that health care workers who sustain needlestick injuries should be offered the option of zidovudine therapy. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Archives of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-9926
Year: 1991
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Physicians' practices and opinions regarding prenatal screening for human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted diseases
Article Abstract:
Many physicians do not routinely screen their pregnant patients for sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Researchers surveyed 83 obstetricians and 94 family physicians about their opinions and practice regarding universal prenatal screening. Almost all recommended prenatal screening for syphilis and hepatitis B, but fewer recommended screening for gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV. Female physicians were more likely to recommend HIV testing than male physicians and even though 89% of the physicians agreed with prenatal HIV testing, only 10% of their patients on average received it.
Publication Name: Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0148-5717
Year: 1998
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