HIV infection in general surgical patients at the Ga-Rankuwa/MEDUNSA complex South Africa

To assess the possible impact of HIV infection on the management of general surgical patients at the Ga-Rankuwa Hospital.

A prospective study.

Ga-Rankuwa Hospital/Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA) Academic Complex, Pretoria, South Africa.

Nine hundred and forty one patients admitted to general surgical wards.

HIV infection and CD4 counts.

Nine hundred and forty one patients admitted to general surgical wards from January 1966 to December 1997 were tested for HIV infection. Twelve per cent tested positive. HIV positive patients were significantly younger [33 +/- 10 versus 41 +/- 7 (men +/- SD) years, Chi-square = 51, p < 0.0001]. There was no correlation of HIV positivity to the patient's sex (p = 0.7). In forty three HIV positive patients treated surgically, mortality was attributed to HIV/AIDS in only one patient with a CD4 count of 47/ul who died following laparotomy for peritonitis. CD4 counts done during follow up in thirty one HIV positive patients revealed a count of < 500/ul in eleven patients.

It is predicted that an increasing number of patients with HIV/AIDS will be admitted to general surgery wards of the Ga-Rankuwa Hospital. Surgeons are advised to take universal precautions to prevent HIV infection.