SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR DEALING WITH AIDS NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1986. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR DEALING WITH AIDS

AIDS. Etiology, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. DeVita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds. Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott Company, p. 265-73, 1985.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/86616582
Safai B; Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Abstract: There is no reliable means of prevention available for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is well documented that AIDS is mainly transmitted by sexual contact and by blood and blood products. However, it is unclear whether the AIDS virus (human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus Type III) can be transmitted by other routes. Continued increase in the number of AIDS cases and the absence of an effective mode of therapy clearly indicate that AIDS and its related medical problems are here to stay. Thus, it is essential to develop guidelines for dealing with AIDS patients (pts) and AIDS-related material. Such guidelines will minimize the possibility of spread of this infection to other groups, especially those directly dealing with AIDS cases, such as health-care workers; furthermore, they might reduce the transmission of opportunistic infections to AIDS victims and to other immunocompromised hosts. Safety precautions for dealing with AIDS are discussed under the following headings: general safety considerations; considerations for inpatients; considerations for outpatients, transfusion rooms, and chemotherapy units; operating rooms; intensive care unit; gastroenterology laboratory; cardiopulmonary laboratory and cystoscopy room; rehabilitation service; dental service; radiology and radiation therapy areas; pathology department; pt escort service; labeling of specimens; housekeeping; employees at high risk for acquiring infections; employees with AIDS; handling of specimens from AIDS pts in hospital laboratories; and screening blood and blood products for AIDS. (21 Refs)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/BLOOD/MICROBIOLOGY/*PREVENTION & CONTROL Antibodies, Viral/ANALYSIS Blood Donors Body Fluids Equipment Contamination/PREVENTION & CONTROL Hospital Departments Human Masks *Personnel, Hospital Protective Clothing *Safety Specimen Handling MONOGRAPH

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/blood/microbiology/KWDprevention&controlantibodies,viral/analysisblooddonorsbodyfluidsequipmentcontamination/prevention&controlhospitaldepartmentshumanmasksKWDpersonnel,hospitalprotectiveclothingKWDsafetyspecimenhandlingmonograph
860330
M8630202

Copyright © 1986 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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