FREQUENCY OF PERCUTANEOUS INJURIES REQUIRING POSTEXPOSURE PROPHYLAXISFOR OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

New recommendations regarding prophylaxis of healthcare workers expose d to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prompted us to examine the fre quency and nature of percutaneous injuries at this hospital. Four prev iously defined risk factors for transmission of HIV were evaluated. Be tween 1993 and 1995, 1,070 percutaneous injuries were reported, includ ing 11 in which the source patient had acquired immunodeficiency syndr ome (AIDS). Five of these injuries involved at least one risk factor f or transmission. No source patient was found to have AIDS as a result of testing following exposure. We conclude that high-risk injuries are infrequent and that postexposure prophylaxis will not increase costs greatly at this medical center.