On September 18, 1987, the Armed Forces Medical Logistical Office issued instructions to temporarily suspend from distribution and use in military hospitals one lot (RHG 636) of RhoGAM* Rho(D) Immune Globulin (human) (Rh-IG), manufactured by Ortho Diagnostic Systems, Inc. This action was taken because a woman on active duty who had received an injection from the lot was subsequently found to be infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
These guidelines are the outgrowth of the 1986 recommendations published in the MMWR (1); the report on the February 24-25, 1987, Conference on Counseling and Testing (2); and a series of meetings with representatives from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, the Association of State and Territorial Public Health Laboratory Directors, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, the National Association of County Health Officials, the United States Conference of Local Health Officers, and the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), is transmitted through sexual contact and exposure to infected blood or blood components and perinatally from mother to neonate.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause of acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and primary hepatocellular carcinoma in the United States and worldwide. Since 1982, a safe and effective hepatitis B (HB) vaccine manufactured from human plasma has been available in the United States.
In August 1986, a cadaveric organ donor was found positive for antibody to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by both enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and Western blot methods after some of the donated organs had been transplanted. A blood sample, which was taken after the donor had received a large number of blood transfusions, had been negative for HIV antibody.
Six persons who provided health care to patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and who denied other risk factors have previously been reported to have HIV infection. Four of these cases followed needle-stick exposures to blood from patients infected with HIV (1-4). The two additional cases involved persons who provided nursing care to persons with HIV infection.
Since October 1985, the U.S. Department of Defense has routinely tested civilian applicants for serologic evidence of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as part of their preinduction medical evaluation (1). Results from the first 6 months of testing have been reported previously (2,3). Results for the first 15 months provide the opportunity to observe trends of infection in this population.
In 1986, a provisional total of 22,575 tuberculosis cases was reported to CDC. This was an increase of 374 cases (1.7%) over the 1985 final total of 22,201 cases (Figure 4). In 1986, the provisional incidence rate was 9.4/100,000 population, a 1.1% increase from the 1985 final rate of 9.3/100,000. Reported by: Div of Tuberculosis Control, Center for Prevention Svcs, CDC.
With the identification of the causative agent of the acquired immuno- deficiency syndrome (AIDS), a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations has been attributed to infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). With the exception of the CDC surveillance definition for AIDS (1,2), no standard definitions for other manifestations of HIV infection have been developed for children.
The health objectives for the nation, established in 1979 (1), included 11 goals relating to the control of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Five are considered appropriate areas for federal involvement: gonorrhea, gonococcal pelvic inflammatory disease, syphilis, provider awareness, and student awareness.
From January 1978 through April 1980, approximately 6,700 homosexual and bisexual men attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases in San Francisco were enrolled in studies of the prevalence and incidence of hepatitis B virus infection (1). Approximately 1,300 participants answered standardized questions regarding their sexual practices.
Seroprevalence surveys for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in women with histories of prostitution have shown varying results since testing began in 1984. In sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV is thought to be transmitted primarily through heterosexual exposure (1-3), one (1%) of 98 prostitutes tested in Accra, Ghana (4), to 29 (88%) of 33 prostitutes in Ngoma, Rwanda (5), had HIV antibody (3-7).
CDC has received a report of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among multiply-transfused leukemia patients in New York City. In addition, there have been several reports that persons with transfusion-associated HIV infection have transmitted the virus to their sexual partners and newborn children. All infected transfusion recipients described in these reports had received blood or blood components before routine screening of donated blood for HIV antibody was begun in the spring of 1985.
Until 3 years ago, non-heat-treated factor concentrates were used in treating congenital and acquired clotting factor deficiencies. At that time, heat-treated factor concentrates were introduced because the unheated concentrates had been epidemiologically linked with the exposure of large numbers of U.S. hemophilia patients to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Until 1983, the incidence of tuberculosis in Connecticut had steadily declined for several decades. In 1982, it reached its lowest point, 5.0 cases per 100,000 population. Since then, tuberculosis incidence in Connecticut has fluctuated above that level, with a rate of 6.2 in 1983, 5.6 in 1984, and 5.1 in 1985. A rate of 6.0 is projected for 1986. This would be an 18% increase over 1985.
As part of the effort to inform the American public about the cause, modes of transmission, and other aspects of AIDS, the Public Health Service (PHS) and the American Red Cross launched a joint mass media campaign in mid-1985. Three television public service announcements aimed at dispelling misconceptions about getting AIDS from casual contact and at promoting use of the PHS toll-free hotline (1-800-342-AIDS) were developed and aired by stations nationwide.
This information is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.