Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens

Letters21 September 2004Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne PathogensMichael L. Landrum, MD, Robert J. O'Connell, MD, and Gregory A. Deye, MDMichael L. Landrum, MDFrom Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, TX 78236, and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, 66849 Landstuhl/Kirchberg, Germany.Search for more papers by this author, Robert J. O'Connell, MDFrom Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, TX 78236, and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, 66849 Landstuhl/Kirchberg, Germany.Search for more papers by this author, and Gregory A. Deye, MDFrom Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, TX 78236, and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, 66849 Landstuhl/Kirchberg, Germany.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-6-200409210-00031 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:The letter by Drs. Behrman and Allan (1) made many valuable suggestions for the efficient and effective evaluation of patients with occupational bloodborne pathogen exposure. We appreciate their suggestions on ways to minimize health care worker anxiety. One additional measure that we have found to be particularly useful is HIV rapid testing of source patients.In our institutions, like most U.S. health care settings, most incidents of bloodborne pathogen exposure involve a source patient with unknown HIV status. This uncertainty leads to several psychological reactions, including anxiety, difficulty sleeping, guilt, pessimism about the future, and the desire ...References1. Behrman AJ, Allan DA. Occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens [Letter]. Ann Intern Med. 2004;140:492. [PMID: 15023728] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Armstrong K, Gorden R, Santorella G. Occupational exposure of health care workers (HCWs) to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): stress reactions and counseling interventions. Soc Work Health Care. 1995;21:61-80. [PMID: 8560364] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Salgado CD, Flanagan HL, Haverstick DM, Farr BM. Low rate of false-positive results with use of a rapid HIV test. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2002;23:335-7. [PMID: 12083238] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Kallenborn JC, Price TG, Carrico R, Davidson AB. Emergency department management of occupational exposures: cost analysis of rapid HIV test. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2001;22:289-93. [PMID: 11428439] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Machado AA, Martinez R, Haikal AA, Rodrigues da Silva MC. Advantages of the rapid HIV-1 test in occupational accidents with potentially contaminated material among health workers. Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo. 2001;43:199-201. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, TX 78236, and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, 66849 Landstuhl/Kirchberg, Germany. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoOccupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Amy J. Behrman and David A. Allan Metrics Cited ByCurrent World Literature 21 September 2004Volume 141, Issue 6Page: 487KeywordsAnxietyDrug administrationHIVHIV-1Health careHealth care providersLaboratory testsPathogensPatientsPostexposure prophylaxis ePublished: 21 September 2004 Issue Published: 21 September 2004 CopyrightCopyright © 2004 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...