title: On the risk of contracting AIDS at the dissection table.
abstract: Didactic dissection of the human body is still considered the best tool to teach and learn anatomy. Although the risk of being infected with pathogens during dissection has dramatically decreased, fear of infection is still widespread among medical students and health care professionals. The fear of contracting AIDS at the dissection table is of particular relevance because of the emotional implications accompanying the syndrome. In this study we analyze the actual risks of contracting AIDS during dissection in Italy by evaluating health policies and proportions of the epidemic. According to the Italian Ministry of Health, HIV infection and AIDS are not to be considered relevant threats to public health from the epidemiological point of view, and it is estimated that 99.7% of health care workers, who are exposed to HIV, will not be infected. In fact, there is only one well-documented case of an autopsy acquired HIV infection that happened in 1992 the United States. Furthermore, HIV infection is not necessarily associated with AIDS, and most HIV-positive subjects do not develop AIDS, provided that they do not assume toxic drugs or engage in risky behaviours. Conversely, according to the Ministry, AIDS can occur in the absence of signs of HIV infection. Taken together these considerations should help rationalizing the fear of contracting AIDS at the dissection table. The dissection hall can still be a dangerous place and the adoption of safe working practices and awareness of potential risks are mandatory; HIV serophobia, however, is unjustified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pathology and Oncology, University of Firenze, Italy. marco.ruggiero@unifi.it
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.forename: Matteo Prayer
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Galletti
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pacini
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Punzi
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morucci
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gulisano
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001344:Autopsy / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000592:standards