[AIDS epidemic and infection control in the United States]

AIDS is the second leading cause of death among persons 25-44 years of age. The risk to patients from physicians and other health care workers with HIV infection has also become a great public concern. There are no specific procedures for infection control in AIDS. Universal precautions are applied to AIDS as well as to any other infectious diseases. Recommended universal infection control in autopsy room is as follows: 1. Wear protective masks and eyewear (or face shields), laboratory coats, gloves, and waterproof aprons; 2. Develop and consistently practice the skills necessary to avoid penetrating injuries; 3. Decontaminate instruments and work areas contaminated during postmortem procedures with a 1:10 dilution of common household bleach, whose active ingredient is sodium hypochlorite; 4. Dispose of waste contaminated with body fluids into a red trash can indicated "BIOHAZARD". In case of accident such as needlestick or cut during autopsy of HIV infected corpe, the person should have the HIV antibody test and start taking azidothymidine (AZT) within 24 hours.