title: Postoperative infections in asymptomatic HIV-seropositive orthopedic trauma patients.
abstract: In a retrospective study of 476 surgical orthopedic trauma patients, we compared postoperative infection rates between individuals seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and with no associated clinical symptoms with HIV-seronegative patients. Overall, the surgical postoperative infection rate was 16.7% in seropositive patients and 5.4% in the seronegative group (Chi-square, p = 0.035). When open fractures were considered separately, the seropositive group had a 55.6% infection rate compared with 11.3% in the seronegative group (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.004). Similarly, seropositive patients also had significantly increased rates of postoperative non-wound infections and complications (Chi-square p < 0.001). Asymptomatic HIV-seropositive orthopedic trauma patients are at significantly higher risk for postoperative infections than their seronegative counterparts. For HIV-seropositive patients with open fractures, this risk is especially pronounced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery University of California, San Francisco General Hospital 94110.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Paiement
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hymes
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: LaDouceur
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gosselin
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*