Occupational exposure to HIV and causes of HIV infection among nursing staff

Abstract:

ObjectiveTo analyze the infection among nursing staff after occupational exposure to  human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and status of HIVinfected nursing staff, provide basis for prevention of HIV infection among nursing staff. MethodsNurses who sustained HIV occupational exposure in a hospital between January 2004 and June 2015, nurses with positive antiHIV and admitted to this hospital, consulted in outpatient department, as well as consulted outside this hospital between January 2001 and December 2015 were and analyzed, HIV infection status among nurse’s mate was also analyzed. Results76 nurses who sustained HIV occupational exposure didn’t infect with HIV after received standard treatment and followup. Among 13 nurses infected with HIV, 3 might be with occupational exposure infection previously, 5 were with blood transfusionrelated infection in the 1990s, 4 were with sexually transmitted infection (including 2 male nurses who had sex with man, MSM), 1 case with infection of unknown transmission route; secondary transmission occurred in 2 cases; 9 nurses are still alive. The infected nurses have received effective antiretroviral treatment and then work at the logistic or administrative department. ConclusionNurses often suffer from occupational exposure to HIV, occupational exposure infection may occur in the absence of the implementation of standardized management, implementation of standardized management is essential to avoid the occupational exposure of HIV. Sexual transmission (including MSM) has become an important transmission route for HIV infection among nurses.