Miami Herald (MH) - Friday June 7, 1991
Susana Bellido and David Zeman; Herald Staff Writers

Genetic tests by the national Centers for Disease Control show that the two, who were not identified, have the same virus strain as three other previously identified patients of the late David Acer.

Acer, who had the same strain of the virus, didn't tell his patients he had AIDS until shortly before his death last September.

The news comes as 23-year-old Kimberly Bergalis, the first of Acer's patients to publicly announce her illness, lies gravely ill at her Fort Pierce home.

Bergalis has been bedridden for the past three weeks and has not heard the latest news, said her attorney, Robert Montgomery of West Palm Beach.

"Kimberly is so ill that she can't comprehend anything at this time," he said. "It's just a matter of time. We're kind of on a death watch right now."

In the only case of its kind reported so far, the CDC announced in January that school teacher Barbara Webb, 65; citrus worker Richard Driskell, 31, both of Martin County, and Bergalis shared Acer's virus strain to a 99.94 percent probability.

The January report also said two other former Acer patients were HIV infected -- one with full-blown AIDS -- but that it had not been determined whether their cases could be linked to Acer.

Health officials did not say in their announcement whether those are the same two patients identified Thursday. The announcement said only that the two patients "had invasive procedures performed by Dr. Acer" and had denied involvement in any high-risk activities that could lead to AIDS.

Invasive procedures are usually extractions or surgeries that cause bleeding.

Administrators at a Veterans Administration clinic in Oakland Park this week announced that one of its dentists is infected with the AIDS virus and offered to test the doctor's patients to ease fears of transmission. Nearly 600 patients of a Wellington orthodontist, Robert Engel, showed up for similar tests this spring after he sent out a letter telling them he also was infected. All tested negative for the virus.

Although the cases raise concern, state health officials say chances of catching the disease in a health-care procedure are remote.

The CDC has been unable to determine how any of the five patients were infected while treated by Acer.

In March, Bergalis' insurance company paid her an undisclosed amount to settle a lawsuit she filed against the firm for directing her to Acer. She previously had obtained $1 million from Acer's malpractice insurer. The Bergalis case sparked worldwide debate among health professionals, politicians and AIDS patient advocates over the rights of patients and infected health-care workers. Two U.S. medical associations revised guidelines in January, urging infected doctors to avoid high-risk medical procedures.

"I expect there will be some heightened attention and more concern," said Allen Grossman, attorney for the state's Board of Dentistry. "Hopefully, it will lead people to be more careful when they go for dental care and be aware that their provider should be wearing a mask and gloves."

The Legislature during the past session passed a bill that enables state officials to establish procedures for handling health-care professionals infected with the AIDS virus.

On June 18, members of a Board of Dentistry committee will consider toughening sterilization rules to ensure the safety of dental patients, Grossman said. The committee's recommendations could range from expanding education programs to restricting the practices of dentists infected with the HIV virus.

"I think there is a growing concern that we have to do something when we find out that a dentist is HIV positive or has full-blown AIDS," Grossman said.

Thursday's announcement "just supports the courageous Kimberly Bergalis who was met with such skepticism when she made the allegation that her dentist gave her AIDS," Montgomery said.

"It's just a shame that we have to have these tragedies to show that Kimberly was right in the first place."
910607
MH910603

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 1991. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .