Look-back investigation of a health care worker infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Tai Hing Lam; Dominic Ngai Chong Tsang; Janice Yee Chi Lo; Julian Gold; Hung To Luk; Sik To Lai; Mang Yee Ho; Johanna Tsao; Ka Hing Wong

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2014.01.014

Look-back investigation of a health care worker infected with human immunodeficiency virus

Am J Infect Control. 2014 May;42(5):569-70. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2014.01.014.

Authors

Tai Hing Lam¹, Dominic Ngai Chong Tsang², Janice Yee Chi Lo³, Julian Gold⁴, Hung To Luk⁵, Sik To Lai³, Mang Yee Ho³, Johanna Tsao³, Ka Hing Wong³

Affiliations

¹ Expert Panel on HIV Infection of Health Care Workers (2009-2012), Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Hospital Authority, Hong Kong SAR, China.
³ Expert Panel on HIV Infection of Health Care Workers (2009-2012), Hong Kong SAR, China.
⁴ Albion Street Centre, WHO Collaborating Centre for Capacity Building and Health Care Workers Training in HIV/AIDS Care, Treatment and Support, Sydney, Australia.
⁵ The College of Surgeons of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.

PMID: 24773799
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2014.01.014

Abstract

We report the referral of an HIV-infected surgeon and a subsequent first-ever recommended look-back investigation in Hong Kong. Efficient coordination and effective implementation of the look-back investigation yielded a high response rate of 92.3% of priority patients, with none tested HIV positive. Our experience reconfirmed the very small risk of provider-to-patient HIV transmission and the crucial importance of infection control.

Keywords: HIV transmission; Infection control.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Cross Infection / transmission*
Cross Infection / virology
HIV / isolation & purification*
HIV Infections / pathology
HIV Infections / transmission*
HIV Infections / virology
Health Personnel*
Hong Kong
Humans
Infection Control / methods*
Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / prevention & control*
Retrospective Studies