Occupational exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus and other blood-borne pathogens. A six-year prospective study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively study occupational exposures to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other blood-borne pathogens. DESIGN AND SETTING: Detailed clinical information was collected and follow-up was performed on all health care workers with occupational exposures to potentially infected substances at Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital during the period January 1985 to September 1991. RESULTS: There were 230 occupational exposures reported. One hundred and forty-one were considered "significant" or "potentially significant"; these involved exposure (or the potential for exposure) to blood or body fluids by the parenteral route or contamination of non-intact skin or mucous membranes. Needle/syringe assemblies accounted for 59% of the "significant" injuries, "butterfly" needles for 21% and lancets for 8%. "Butterfly" needles were over-represented relative to their degree of use. Seventy-seven of the 230 exposures were HIV-related and 27 of these were considered "significant". The number of HIV positive patients attending the hospital increased progressively over the survey period but the rate of HIV-related exposures fell during that time. After 1988, 13 individuals with "significant" exposure to HIV received a six-week prophylactic course of zidovudine. No health care workers seroconverted for HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C during the survey period. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of acquiring HIV (and other blood-borne diseases) through occupational exposure is very low and this risk can be further reduced by adopting safe work practices.