Incidence of HIV seroconversion in paediatric burn patients

A retrospective review of paediatric patients treated for acute burn injuries and receiving blood/blood products between 1978 and 1985, identified 52 patients at risk for HIV infection. Over 50 per cent of the identified population had received 3 or more units of blood/blood products during their acute hospital stay. A total of 214 patients (36.8 per cent) have been tested for HIV seroconversions: five tested HIV positive by ELISA and four were confirmed by Western Blot, yielding a 1.9 per cent incidence. The four confirmed patients received 2-9 total body blood volume turnovers during their postburn period in hospital. At 4 years post-exposure, two patients show active disease, one is currently asymptomatic and one has died from AIDS-related sepsis.