HIV seroprevalence in Nigerian patients with surgical lesions of the brain: implications for management.
OBJECTIVE
This study was done to estimate the seroprevalence rate among Nigerian patients presenting to hospital with neurosurgical disease.


METHODS
We reviewed our patients' hospital records from October 1996 to October 2001 for clinical presentation and diagnosis, cranial CT findings, results of retrovirus screening and mode of management.


RESULTS
Sixteen (10 males and 6 females) out of 601 patients screened for HIV by ELISA were confirmed by Western Blot to be positive, giving a seroprevalence rate of 2.7% . Twelve of the HIV-positive patients were asymptomatic for HIV disease.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a low but definite risk of HIV transmission to health workers managing patients with surgical lesions of the brain in areas where HIV is prevalent. Asymptomatic seropositive HIV patients with surgically curable intracranial disease should be managed with the most minimally invasive procedure appropriate for the surgical lesion under universal protective measures.
Shokunbi
M T
MT
Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Adeolu
A A
AA
Shokunbi
W A
WA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology