Surgeons with HIV infection: the risk to patients.
The risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission from an infected surgeon to a patient is probably very low. In separate studies, the patients of four surgeons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been followed up; no evidence of transmission was found. However, a recent report suggests that a dentist with AIDS may have transmitted HIV infection to a patient during the extraction of two molar teeth. Whether HIV-infected health care workers who perform invasive procedures ought to be obliged to discontinue or modify their practice continues to be debated.
Schaffner
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Department of Preventive Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232.
D000328:Adult; D003815:Dentists; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D010361:Patients; D012106:Research; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012703:Serotyping; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology