In January 1989 [corrected], the media reported the identity of a surgeon who was recently diagnosed with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Concern about surgeon-to-patient transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) persisted despite reassurances from health authorities. Therefore, HIV antibody testing was offered to the surgeon's patients. We identified 2160 patients operated on since 1982; none had been reported to Tennessee's AIDS registry. A total of 264 had already died; none were reported to have died of AIDS or other HIV-related diseases. Of the 1896 patients remaining, we contacted 1652; 616 (37%) were tested. Only one (an intravenous drug user) was HIV antibody positive, and his medical history suggested that he may already have had AIDS at the time of his surgery. These results support the concept that the risks to patients operated on by HIV-infected surgeons are most likely quite low and support recommendations for the individualized assessment of HIV-infected health care workers.
KIE: The authors attempted to notify and to offer HIV antibody testing to all patients who had been operated on by a Tennessee surgeon with AIDS during the seven years prior to his diagnosis. They found no evidence of HIV transmission to patients from the surgeon. Six hundred and sixteen former patients were screened for HIV; only one, an intravenous drug user, tested positive for HIV antibody. None of 2,160 former patients appeared on the Tennessee AIDS registry. None of 264 deceased patients were reported to have died of AIDS or of AIDS-related diseases. Mishu, et al. argue that their findings support the conclusion that risks to patients operated on by HIV-positive surgeons are probably quite low, and that each instance of a HIV-infected health worker should be assessed individually.