[HIV transmission in hospitals and office practice. Protection of patients and medical personnel].

Research has brought full knowledge of the identity of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its infective pathways. There are not enough diagnostic tools, however, to detect all HIV carriers in the first weeks and months after infection. This fact emphasizes that all patients should be assumed to be infectious for HIV and other bloodborne pathogens. A slight but certainly existent risk for all health-care workers is a reality. Information and recommendations concerning the protection of surgical personnel against acquisition of HIV while performing their duties, and protection of HIV carriers, were published in 1988 by the Union of Swiss Surgical Societies, Practicability and compliance with these infection-control precautions were checked in 1990 after two years' operation with the aid of a questionnaire. 89 valid answers from 110 Swiss hospitals (yielding a response rate of 81%), together with overall experience, allow us to evaluate the recommendations of 1988. We conclude that the risk of HIV infection after occupational exposure to blood and other body fluids, and the potential threat to the HIV carrier, can be minimized to a very high degree by acceptance of the recommended infection-control precautions. This is especially true in surgical units, emergencies and first aid.