J Am Dent Assoc. 1989 Mar;118(3):339-42. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
The possibility of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) to health care workers with occupational exposure to infected
patients has caused concern since the beginning of the AIDS crisis. This
report summarizes both national surveillance data for AIDS among health
care workers and the results of prospective studies on the risk of HIV
transmission in the health care professions. All the available evidence
indicates that HIV infection in health care workers in the United States
results primarily from exposure outside the health care setting, and is
acquired by one of the conventional routes of transmission. A small
number of health care workers have been infected with HIV through
occupational exposure. Prospective surveillance studies indicate that
the risk of seroconversion after needlestick exposure to HIV-infected
blood is about 0.5%. The level of risk associated with exposure of
mucous membranes or nonintact skin is far less.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*TRANSMISSION Dental Auxiliaries
Dentists *Health Manpower Human HIV Occupational
Diseases/*TRANSMISSION Risk Factors Saliva/MICROBIOLOGY JOURNAL
ARTICLE REVIEW REVIEW, TUTORIAL