Documented prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C infection in patients with penetrating trauma

Background: Trauma patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV ) or hepatitis C (HCV) pose specific problems to health-care workers due to the risk of exposure to these agents in blood and other body fluids. Studi es of patients with penetrating trauma in the USA have shown a higher preva lence of HIV and HCV infection than the general population. No studies have examined the prevalence of these infections in Australian trauma patients. Methods: The medical records of all patients presenting to St Vincent's Hos pital, Sydney, from January 1994 to December 1998, with a stab wound to the neck, chest or abdomen, or with a gunshot wound to any anatomical site, we re retrospectively reviewed. The number of patients with a history of HIV o r HCV infection, or with risk factors for these such as male-to-male sexual intercourse and intravenous drug use, were recorded. Results: The medical records of 148 patients with stab wounds to the neck, chest or abdomen, or with gunshot wounds were examined. Risk factors for HI V or HCV infection were recorded in 31 patients (21%). Two patients (1.3%) had a history of HIV infection and a further eight patients (5.4%) were kno wn to have HCV. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of risk factors for HIV and HCV in patients with major penetrating wounds at St Vincent's Hospital. The preva lence of documented HIV and HCV infection was subsequently greater than tha t expected in the general population, highlighting the risks to health-care workers managing these patients.