Human immunodeficiency virus transmission and surgeons: update.

Concerns of patients and health care providers regarding disease transmission in the health care setting are not unique to the current human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. The data show that the risk to health care workers (HCWs) from patients is far greater than the risk to patients from HCWs. Despite the high frequency of contact with potentially infected fluids, surgeons appear to have a low occupational risk of acquiring HIV infection. Further, the actual risk of surgeon-to-patient transmission appears to be extremely small. Recommendations that HIV-infected surgeons restrict their practice or inform patients of their HIV status may have little, if any, value. Yet the federal government required states to adopt guidelines on this issue. Since these guidelines vary among the states, HCWs should be familiar with the legal guidelines and penalties in their state.