Current Trends Summary: Recommendations for Preventing
Transmission of Infection with Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type
III/ Lymphadenopathy-Associated Virus in the Workplace
The information and recommendations contained in this document
have been developed with particular emphasis on health-care workers
and others in related occupations in which exposure might occur to
blood from persons infected with HTLV-III/LAV, the "AIDS virus."
Because of public concern about the purported risk of transmission
of
HTLV-III/LAV by persons providing personal services and those
preparing and serving food and beverages, this document also
addresses
personal-service and food-service workers. Finally, it addresses
"other workers"--persons in settings, such as offices, schools,
factories, and construction sites, where there is no known risk of
AIDS virus transmission.
Because AIDS is a bloodborne, sexually transmitted disease that
is
not spread by casual contact, this document does not recommend
routine
HTLV-III/LAV antibody screening for the groups addressed. Because
AIDS is not transmitted through preparation or serving of food and
beverages, these recommendations state that food-service workers
known
to be infected with AIDS should not be restricted from work unless
they have another infection or illness for which such restriction
would be warranted.
This document contains detailed recommendations for precautions
appropriate to prevent transmission of all bloodborne infectious
diseases to people exposed--in the course of their duties--to blood
from persons who may be infected with HTLV-III/LAV. They emphasize
that health-care workers should take all possible precautions to
prevent needlestick injury. The recommendations are based on the
well-documented modes of HTLV-III/LAV transmission and incorporate
a
"worst case" scenario, the hepatitis B model of transmission.
Because
the hepatitis B virus is also bloodborne and is both hardier and
more
infectious than HTLV-III/LAV, recommendations that would prevent
transmission of hepatitis B will also prevent transmission of AIDS.
Formulation of specific recommendations for health-care workers
who perform invasive procedures is in progress.
Disclaimer
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