5th International AIDS Conference Montreal, Quebec, Canada — Jun 4-9, 1989

Int Conf AIDS 1989 Jun 4-9; 5:163 (abstract no. A.518)
Jorbeck H, Marland M, Steinkeller E; Danderyd Hospital, Danderyd, Sweden

OBJECTIVES: To document circumstances, frequency and outcome of accidental exposures to HIV-positive blood and bloody body fluids among health-care workers.

METHODS: This prospective study was started in January 1, 1985. It includes health-care workers in 2 Swedish hospitals giving medical care for HIV-infected persons. All reported notifications of damage with exposure to HIV-positive blood or bloody body fluids among more than 2 500 health-care workers have been studied. Blood samples (including an early blood sample) of the exposed workers have been regularly taken and examined (ELISA).

RESULTS: Around 70 accidents have been reported, so far. Different kinds of parenteral exposures were dominating. So far, all anti-HIV antibody tests have been negative.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Seroconversion after percutaneous HIV-accidents with blood has been estimated to 5 per 1,000 exposures. In our study no seroconversion in around 40 percutaneous and 30 other HIV-accidents have yet been confirmed, which is to be expected. The majority of the percutaneous HIV-accidents were caused by needle-sticks in combination with phlebotomy, blood-culturing and injections. To our judgment, around 1/3 of the accidents might have been prevented. This study clearly shows that hazardous circumstances, among others, were manipulation with needles (recapping, disposal, "cleaning up" a o), laboratory work (tubes) and surgery (suture needles). To minimize the hazards in the future we have to identify hazardous circumstances, work etc and do something about it (guarded needles, puncture proof boxes, safe work practice)! Further, we have to educate and inform health care workers, as well as others, about the hazards and change their behavior if needed!

890604
A518

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