[HIV testing after needlestick injury: must the index patient be informed?].
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.
Wicker
S
S
Betriebsärztlicher Dienst, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt. Sabine.Wicker@kgu.de <Sabine.Wicker@kgu.de>
Gottschalk
R
R
Spickhoff
A
A
Rabenau
H F
HF
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