Risks faced by laboratory workers in the AIDS era

Laboratory workers are at occupational risk of exposure to microrganisms th at cause a wide variety of diseases, from inapparent to life-threatening on es. Principal routes of transmission include percutaneous and permucosal in oculation (comprising clinical inapparent cutaneous or mucosal exposure to blood or blood products), inhalation, and ingestion. The appearance of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) epidemic an d the first reports of occupational Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infe ctions in health care workers resulted in high anxiety among laboratory wor kers. Indeed, 21% of worldwide documented cases of occupational HIV infecti on occurred among laboratory workers. Research laboratories pose the highes t risk of infection. Safe methods for managing infectious agents ("containment") in the laborato ry setting include laboratory practice and technique, safety equipment, and facility design. Infection control in the laboratory setting should take i nto account adherence to guidelines (biosafety levels), education and train ing, and the development of safety products designed to reduce the risk of exposure.