title: Risk to the health care worker of HIV infection and how to minimize It.
abstract: Occupational transmission of HIV fortunately is uncommon. The risk of acquiring HIV depends on the mode of exposure, the body fluid involved, and the source patient. Percutaneous injuries carry the greatest risk (approximately 0.3%), and blood is by far the most important source of HIV to which the health care worker is exposed. Universal precautions should be applied to all patients in order to decrease the risk of occupational transmission of HIV. Furthermore, a system must be designed to provide adequate assessment, counselling, and follow-up for exposed health care personnel. Postexposure prophylaxis must be tailored to the specific exposure for each health care worker.
authors.affiliation: Instructor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: DiMarino
mesh_terms: D004203:Disinfection; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology