HIV infections as unanticipated problems during medical research in Africa

Regulations and guidelines in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom require institutions that manage medical research on humans anywhere in the world to protect research participants. Analyses of published data from six medical research projects in Africa funded by governments and other organizations in the above countries reveal HIV infections statistically linked to participation in research. Given this evidence, regulations and guidelines obligate institutions that fund, manage, or regulate these projects to investigate to determine if invasive procedures in research clinics infected participants. Findings from such investigations could have a broad and beneficial impact on health care safety in Africa.