Are healthcare workers at risk of HIV infection through contact with HIV+ patients?
The risk to healthcare workers being exposed to HIV is extremely low, especially if they follow universal healthcare procedures. Everyday casual contact does not expose anyone, including healthcare workers, to HIV. The main risk is through accidental injuries from needles and other sharp objects that may be contaminated with HIV. It has been estimated that the risk of infection from a needle-stick injury is less than 1 percent. In the UK for instance, there have been five documented HIV seroconversions through occupational exposure in the healthcare setting, and twelve possible/probable occupational seroconversions. In the US, there were 56 documented cases of occupational HIV transmission up to June 2000. Certain specific factors may mean a needle stick injury carries a higher risk, for example. These include if it was a deep injury, if it was made with a hollow bore needle, if the source patient has a high viral load and if the sharp instrument was visibly contaminated with blood.
