ABSTRACT
The largest collection yet assembled of year-to-year data on the seroprevalence of antibody to HIV in practicing dentists confirms that dentists--along with other health care workers--remain at low risk for occupationally acquired HIV infection.
Subject(s)
Dentists , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Seroprevalence , HIV-1/immunology , Occupational Diseases/epidemiology , AIDS Serodiagnosis , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , HIV Antibodies/blood , HIV Infections/transmission , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate, intracellular parasite infecting the columnar and transitional cells lining the endocervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, rectum, urethra, and epididymis. We determined if the percent of specimens positive for C. trachomatis in the Microtrak Direct Specimen Test depended on the quality of specimens obtained. Female genital slides (649) were evaluated by the direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test for the presence and numbers of (a) C. trachomatis elementary bodies and (b) columnar, transitional and squamous epithelial cells, and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs). Only 138 (21.3%) of the 649 slides were considered to be adequately taken, that is, containing columnar/transitional cells either alone or in conjunction with squamous cells and/or PMNs. Of the 138 adequate slides, 10 (7.2%) were C. trachomatis positive. However, 511 (78.7%) of the 649 slides were judged inadequate; 395 contained only squamous cells and/or PMNs, 19 were too thick to determine cell types, 46 contained only cell debris, and 51 contained neither cells nor debris. Only four (0.78%) of 511 were C. trachomatis positive. Thus adequate specimens containing columnar/transitional cells for C. trachomatis detection had a tenfold increase in the percent of positive results compared to inadequately collected specimens. By using the DFA test, one has the advantage of determining the adequacy of the specimens obtained as well as the presence of chlamydiae.
Subject(s)
Chlamydia Infections/diagnosis , Chlamydia trachomatis/isolation & purification , Genital Diseases, Female/diagnosis , Genitalia, Female/microbiology , Specimen Handling/standards , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Chlamydia Infections/microbiology , Female , Fluorescent Antibody Technique , Genital Diseases, Female/microbiology , Genital Diseases, Male/diagnosis , Genital Diseases, Male/microbiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Predictive Value of Tests , Urethra/microbiologyABSTRACT
To assess the risk of exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among health care workers in a southern urban setting, random screening for antibodies to HIV was undertaken. Patients who were admitted for major trauma, for medical emergencies, or in labor were screened. Of 534 sera screened, 11 (2%) were seropositive. All but two of the seropositive patients were men. Rates were similar among black and white patients. Seven patients could be placed into an established risk group, but only one patient was known to have AIDS upon presentation to the emergency room. The mean age of seropositive individuals was 30.9 years; there were similar seroprevalence rates in each of four age groups among men. We conclude that there is a substantial risk of exposure to HIV in trauma and medical emergency centers; therefore all health care workers should practice universal barrier precautions whenever exposure to a patient's blood or body fluids is likely.
