Occupational human immunodeficiency virus infection in health care workers: Worldwide cases through September 1997

The average estimated risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection for health care workers following a percutaneous or mucous exposure is <0.5 % in incidence studies, although a case-control study suggests it is much h igher for highest-risk percutaneous exposure. To characterize exposures res ulting in HIV transmission, we reviewed available data on occupational case s reported worldwide, identifying 94 documented and 170 possible cases. The majority of documented infections occurred in nurses, after contact with t he blood of a patient with AIDS by means of percutaneous exposure, with a d evice placed in an artery or vein. High-exposure job categories, e.g., midw ives and surgeons, are represented mostly among possible cases. Transmissio n occurred also through splashes, cuts, and skin contaminations, and in som e cases despite postexposure prophylaxis with zidovudine, Health care worke rs could benefit if these data were incorporated in educational programs de signed to prevent occupational bloodborne infections.