HIV infection risk to health-care workers.
The risk of occupationally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in exposed health-care workers has been estimated to be 0.5% after accidental needlestick with an HIV-contaminated needle. Needlestick injuries resulting in parenteral exposure to HIV-infected material are the most common reported cause of occupational HIV infection in health-care workers. With 60% of these exposures unpreventable even with strict adherence to current infection control procedures, it is necessary to develop technical changes in work protection in order to further reduce the risk.
Gershon
R M
RM
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205-2179.
Vlahov
D
D
D001007:Anxiety; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D006281:Health Occupations; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011336:Probability; D012306:Risk