[AIDS: organizational and medico-legal problems]

The medical imaging of AIDS patients may turn out a major challenge for hospital organization, since the specific problems related to this syndrome in terms of abnormal changes and increased diagnostic burden are to be matched with infection control procedures. Data obtained from 12 radiology departments in Lombardia hospitals where an Infectious Disease Department is present may yield valuable indications about the optimization of resources and how to implement sound cost-benefit measures while taking care of patient needs. Professional exposure to HIV may be substantially reduced by educational and practical measures, whereas strict hygienic standards applied to hospital environment and individual patients are of great value in controlling nosocomial infections in this population of immunodepressed individuals. The growing problem of HIV seropositive health care workers may be positively addressed with a modulated approach combining the contrasting issues of patients safety and non-discriminating job policy.