Possible Occupationally Acquired HIV Infection in Two Indian Healthcare Workers

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The following report on possible occupationally acquired HIV might

interest to the FORUM memebrs.

From Medscape General Medicine™

eJIAS: eJournal of the International AIDS Society

Possible Occupationally Acquired HIV Infection in Two Indian Healthcare Workers,

Posted 05/24/2006

Ajay Wanchu, MD, DM; Surgit Singh, MD; Pradeep Bambgery, MD; Subash Varma, MD

Introduction

In healthcare settings, avoiding occupational blood exposure is the best way to

prevent transmission of HIV infection.[1] There are several considerations for

postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV and there are several sources of

information about the use and safety of HIV PEP. There are also concerns

regarding PEP regimens when the source person's virus is known or suspected to

be resistant to 1 or more of the antiretroviral agents that might be used for

PEP. In addition, unnecessary use of antiretroviral drugs should be avoided;

data indicate that some healthcare workers (HCW) have taken a full course of HIV

PEP after exposures that do not carry a risk of HIV transmission.[2] In

prospective studies of HCW, the average risk of HIV transmission after a

percutaneous exposure to HIV-infected blood has been estimated to be

approximately 0.3% and after a mucous membrane exposure, approximately

0.09%.[3,4]

Data collected on needlestick injuries in the United States by the US Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may differ from other countries

throughout the world. The prevalence of occupationally acquired HIV infection is

likely to be underreported in developing countries, including India, given the

fact that needlestick injuries are common and very few individuals take

prophylaxis or get tested for HIV after such exposures. In this report we

describe 2 individuals who worked in settings where needlestick injuries were

frequent and occurred at a time when use of PEP was infrequent. Although

seroconversion was not proven in these cases, the absence of any other

identified risk factor suggests that the HIV was occupationally transmitted.

This report also serves to highlight the lack of commitment of society to fund

the lifelong treatment of these individuals.

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Readers are encouraged to respond to Lundberg, MD, Editor of MedGenMed,

for the editor's eye only or for possible publication via email:

glundberg@...

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Section 1 of 3 Next Page: Case Reports

Ajay Wanchu, MD, DM, Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of

Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. Email: awanchu@...

Surgit Singh, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of

Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

Pradeep Bambgery, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of

Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

Subash Varma, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of

Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

Disclosure: Ajay Wanchu, MD, DM, has disclosed no relevant financial

relationships.

Disclosure: Surgit Singh, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Disclosure: Pradeep Bambgery, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial

relationships.

Disclosure: Subash Varma, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Medscape General Medicine. 2006;8(2):56. ©2006 Medscape

http://medgenmed.medscape.com/viewarticle/530539

____________________

Ajay Wanchu

E-MAIL: <awanchu@...>