title: [HIV testing after needlestick injury: must the index patient be informed?].
abstract: As a current case of needlestick injury (NSI) has demonstrated, it is obvious that in clinical practice there is often uncertainty about the procedure if the index patient refuses a blood test or is not able to give his/her consent. The question about the legality of implementing HBV, HCV and HIV testing after NSI is commented on from different points of view: occupational medicine, infection control, virology and the legal system. The testing of the index patient - without his/her consent - seems to be appropriate. The protection of health care workers should be given priority over the right of the index patient "not wanting to know" about his/her infection status.
authors.affiliation: Betriebsärztlicher Dienst, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt. Sabine.Wicker@kgu.de <Sabine.Wicker@kgu.de>
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wicker
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gottschalk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spickhoff
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Rabenau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology