Recommended precautions for patients undergoing hemodialysis who have AIDS or non-A, non-B hepatitis

Precautions used for dialysis patients who have acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or non-A, non-B hepatitis are based on infection control strategies developed for the control of hepatitis B in dialysis centers. Specifically, these recommendations include identifying infected patients; isolating (except for non-A, non-B hepatitis patients) patients, and separating staff, and equipment; applying blood precautions and aseptic techniques; and using good environmental control procedures. AIDS patients can be safely dialyzed by either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis in hospital-based or free-standing centers, or at home without risk of AIDS transmission to other patients or to staff members, if precautions that have been developed for the control of hepatitis B infection in dialysis units are employed. Further, the type of dialysis treatment, or modality, should be based on the needs of the patient and not on a fear of risk of disease transmission.