What is the occupational risk to emergency care providers from the human immunodeficiency virus?

The risk to health care providers of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection through occupational exposure is very low, but the consequences of becoming infected are obviously severe. The magnitude of this risk has been debated extensively in the medical literature, but the majority of these discussions have focused on providers of surgical, orthopedic, and obstetric care, none of whom have ever been documented to have become infected with HIV through occupational exposure. In contrast, there has been very little information published regarding the degree of risk to emergency care providers, several of whom have been confirmed as having acquired HIV infection through occupational exposures. This report addresses the extent and nature of risk of HIV infection to emergency care providers and reviews the current management of significant exposures.