Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1986. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Risk of nosocomial infection with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus in a large cohort of intensively exposed health care workers.
Ann Intern Med. 1986 May;104(5):644-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/86185032 Henderson DK; Saah AJ; Zak BJ; Kaslow RA; Lane HC; Folks T; Blackwelder WC; Schmitt J; LaCamera DJ; Masur H; et al
Abstract:
To assess the risk of nosocomial transmission of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus (HTLV-III/LAV), we prospectively evaluated a cohort of 531 health care workers. One hundred fifty of these employees reported percutaneous or mucous membrane exposures to blood or body fluids from a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) during the treatment of 238 such patients since 1981. None of these 150 employees had serologic evidence of HTLV-III/LAV infection on follow-up from 6 to 46 months after exposure. Of the 150, 46 were studied immunologically and 29 had lymphocytes cultured for HTLV-III/LAV. Results of all studies were normal. Of the 531 employees, 3 (0.56%) had serologic evidence of HTLV-III/LAV infection. All were seropositive at the time of study entry; none reported adverse nosocomial exposures. All acknowledged membership in one or more established risk groups for AIDS. This study provides strong evidence that the risk of nosocomial transmission of HTLV-III/LAV is extremely low.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*TRANSMISSION Cross Infection/*TRANSMISSION Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Epidemiologic Methods Human Laboratory Infection/TRANSMISSION National Institutes of Health (U.S.) Occupational Diseases/*TRANSMISSION *Personnel, Hospital Prospective Studies Questionnaires Risk United States JOURNAL ARTICLE
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