Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection, Transmission and Prevention among Health Care Workers

Exposure to blood borne pathogens poses a serious risk to health care workers(HCWs).The first case of documented seroconversion after occupational exposure to HIV was reported in 1984.The average risk of HIV transmission after percutaneous exposure to HIVinfected blood is approximately 0.3%,however the risk believed to be higher for exposures involving and increased volume of blood or high viral load. Occupationally acquired HIV infection is usually classified as ‘definite’ or ‘possible’. A ‘definitive’ is the one with documented evidence of HIV seroconversion.The ‘possible’ case implies where a health care worker (HCW) was found to be HIV infected but investigations revealed no risk factor other than occupational exposure Nosocomial HIV transmission have been reported frequently, involved breaches in proper infection-control practices and disinfectionprocedures.Post exposure chemoprophylaxis is recommended for HCWs who being exposed to HIV.The CDC recommends for treatment after occupationally HIV exposure with two drugs zidovudine,lamivudine and a protease inhibitor. Prevention is the key to transmission of HIV,require education of HCWs including other staff in the health care facility, provision of essential equipment and strict adherence to standard precautions. The golden rule is prevention is better than cure.