[Utilization of an emergency service by patients with HIV infection]

To know the impact of HIV infection in a hospital emergency department the health care episodes of seropositive individuals are reviewed in a retrospective study from the January 1 to March 31, 1992. Cases have been identified comparing the list of those infected by HIV with the users of the department during the period studied.

430 episodes in 288 patients (1.5 episodes/patient) have been included constituting 2.3% of the total. 76.4% were males, with a mean age of 29.2 years (range, 18-59) and 60.2% were evaluated the medical area. Hospital admission was indicated on 147 occasions (34.2% versus 19% of seronegatives; p < 0.001). The most frequent diagnoses were infections which were or were not associated to alteration of cellular immunity (32.8%) and complications related with the abuse of opioid substances (23.7%).

The pathology associated to HIV infection and to the abuse of intravenous drugs constitutes a frequent problem in the emergency departments. The infectious diseases which are or are not associated to alteration in cellular immunity, complications related with the consumption of opioids and the high index of admissions are of note. Professionals carrying out health care work in this medium must be familiarized with the diagnosis and treatment of these processes.