HIV-1 infection of a nurse from a newborn with an unknown HIV infection: a case report.
BACKGROUND
HIV infection of healthcare workers by injury is an important issue in the management and prophylaxis of HIV-related disease.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a case where a nurse has been HIV-1 infected by needle-stick whilst taking blood from a newborn with an unknown HIV infection.


METHODS
Virological, immunological and clinical analysis of a peculiar case of HIV transmission from newborn to nurse has been reported.


RESULTS
The nurse has been infected by needle-stick injury whilst taking blood from a newborn with an unknown HIV infection. The delayed declaration of accident by nurse and the inaccurate medical management of pregnant woman determined the subsequent absence of correct prophylaxis measures and then the impossibility to tackle the HIV transmission.


CONCLUSIONS
This case indicates that HIV serological screening of pregnant women and prompt accident notification by health-care workers represent basic preventive measures that should effectively tackle the spread of HIV infection.
Gibellini
Davide
D
Section of Microbiology of the Department of Hematology and Oncologic Science, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. davide.gibellini@unibo.it
Borderi
Marco
M
Bon
Isabella
I
Biagetti
Carlo
C
De Crignis
Elisa
E
Re
Maria Carla
MC
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission*; D015497:HIV-1; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D009726:Nurses; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010802:Phylogeny; D011247:Pregnancy; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015215:Zidovudine