Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) infection: how it can affect you, your patients, and your...

The effects of the current HTLV-III epidemic are of considerable significance to the general public and health care system. It is a new disease with diverse ramifications . . . not all of which are understood. Many drugs are being evaluated in clinical trials, but at present, they are not expected to be able to rid an infected individual of HTLV-III. There is hope for an effective vaccine, but its development is not anticipated in the near future. For now, prevention of exposure is our only means of decreasing HTLV-III transmission. We will be caring for increasing numbers of patients with HTLV-III infection. Some of these patients will have AIDS or ARC. However, a much larger pool of patients will have asymptomatic, unrecognized HTLV-III infections. Therefore, all of our patients should be treated with good hygienic practices. Appropriate guidelines can help insure our safety as well as that of our patients. The evidence is overwhelming that HTLV-III is spread sexually, by injection of contaminated blood, and from mother to fetus. Our highest personal risk for becoming infected with HTLV-III is by parenteral introduction via contaminated needles or other sharp objects. We must realize that despite the routine close contact with blood and body secretions of patients inherent to our profession, we are at little risk for becoming infected. Furthermore, with care and vigilance, we can protect our patients from risk of infection with not only HTLV-III, but a wide variety of other infectious agents as well.