Surveillance of HIV infection and zidovudine use among health care workers after occupational exposure to HIV-infected blood
Article Abstract:
Less than 1% of 1,103 health care workers exposed to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through a break in the skin seroconverted to HIV-positive status within one year of exposure. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Prophylactic zidovudine was taken by 31% of 848 workers who were studied. The medical personnel who participated in the study are part of a continuing project of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The health care workers were tested for HIV status within one month of the original injury and then at six weeks, three months, six months and one year. The conversion rate of .36% accords with other estimates of seroconversion rates for invasive injuries. The prophylactic use of zidovudine did not prevent one worker from seroconverting. Those who took zidovudine reported side effects of headaches, nausea, and fatigue.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1993
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Percutaneous exposures to HIV-infected blood among dental workers enrolled in the CDC Needlestick Study
Article Abstract:
Occupational HIV exposure among dental workers appears to involve small amounts of blood. Researchers interviewed 19 dental workers who were exposed to HIV-infected blood. Ten were dentists, three were hygienists, and six were assistants. Fourteen cuts were moderately deep, had penetrated the skin, and had caused bleeding. The other five injuries were superficial scratches or of unknown severity. Hollow-bore syringe needles, scalers, explorers, and burs caused a total of 14 injuries. Six instruments had visible evidence of patients' blood at the time of the injury. Eight injuries occurred while the dental worker was using the instrument and 11 injuries occurred afterward during cleanup, disassembly, or needle recapping. All the dental workers tested negative for HIV.
Publication Name: Journal of the American Dental Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-8177
Year: 1995
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A case-controlled study of HIV seroconversion in health care workers after percutaneous exposure
Article Abstract:
HIV transmission resulting from needlesticks and cuts may increase with exposure to more infected blood and higher blood levels of virus. Analysis of 33 health care workers who contracted HIV and 665 others who remained HIV-free after exposure points to deep injury, puncture with a bloody needle, and injury with blood from a terminally-ill AIDS patient as significant risk factors. Postexposure treatment with zidovudine (AZT) reduced the risk of infection about 81%. Health care workers face an estimated 0.3% risk of contracting HIV when they are exposed to infected blood through broken skin.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1997
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