["Needlestick" accidents--procedures following potentially infectious exposure in medical personnel]

Accidental exposure to blood carries with it a definite risk for the health care worker of infection by various bloodborne pathogens, especially the hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus. The risk of transmission from exposure to HIV is lower than that associated with exposure to HBV and HCV. Should HIV infection occur, however, the outcome is likely to be fatal. Although general infection control precautions, safer use of needles, gloves, and other procedures may substantially reduce the incidence of occupational exposures, they cannot eliminate the risk completely. The post-exposure management is discussed. Neither the efficacy nor the safety of AZT (zidovudine) for use as a chemoprophylactic agent following occupational exposures to HIV has been established. Nevertheless in selected cases it can be proposed to health care workers.