Occupational exposure to HIV: experience at a tertiary care center. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Occupational exposure to HIV: experience at a tertiary care center.

J Occup Environ Med. 1998 Dec;40(12):1102-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/99089053
Swotinsky RB; Steger KA; Sulis C; Snyder S; Craven DE; Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine,; Mass, USA.

Abstract: We examined our hospital-based occupational health clinic's experience with combination antiretroviral therapy for postexposure prophylaxis for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Over a 12-month period, 68 workers started postexposure prophylaxis: 23 with zidovudine and lamivudine and 45 with zidovudine, lamivudine, and indinavir. Fifty-one (75%) of the 68 workers starting postexposure prophylaxis reported one or more side effects. Side effects were more common among those taking three drugs. Many workers failed to complete the recommended 28-day regimen because of the side effects of the various treatments. The estimated mean cost for evaluations, prophylaxis, and monitoring of exposed workers was $669 per reported exposure. In our experience, major challenges in carrying out the current HIV postexposure prophylaxis guidelines include expeditious source testing, improved staff education and prevention measures, and scrupulous monitoring of workers taking combination antiretroviral drugs for postexposure prophylaxis, with consideration of alternate regimens for intolerant workers.
Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE Anti-HIV Agents/THERAPEUTIC USE Blood-Borne Pathogens *Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional Human HIV Infections/PREVENTION & CONTROL/*TRANSMISSION *Occupational Exposure *Personnel, Hospital Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.KWDjournalarticleanti-hivagents/therapeuticuseblood-bornepathogensKWDdiseasetransmission,patient-to-professionalhumanhivinfections/prevention&control/KWDtransmissionKWDoccupationalexposureKWDpersonnel,hospitalsupport,uKWDsKWDgov't,pKWDhKWDs
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