title: Benefits of a rapid HIV test for evaluation of the source patient after occupational exposure of healthcare workers.
abstract: Rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing for the management of occupational exposure of healthcare workers significantly decreased the number of anti-retroviral post-exposure prophylaxis regimens started whilst awaiting HIV test results. The study confirmed an equivalent performance of the rapid test in comparison with HIV enzyme immunoassay, and suggests it is cost-effective. In addition, two other potential benefits emerged: reducing the number of source patients who remain untested and increasing the number of occupational exposures reported.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Epidemiologia, Istituto Nazionale per le Malattie Infettive, Lazzaro Spallanzani, IRCCS, Via Portuense 292, 00149 Rome, Italy. puro@inmi.it
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Puro
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Francisci
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sighinolfi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Civljak
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Belfiori
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deparis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roda
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Modestino
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghinelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ippolito
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D007558:Italy; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D019259:Lamivudine; D015215:Zidovudine