Percutaneous Injuries and Transmission of HIV Among Cases Referred for Post Exposure Prophylaxis to Razi Hospital in Ahvaz, a City in the Southwest Iran

Abstract

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) and public in Iran may be at the risk of percutaneous injury (PI) as well as infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the PI and transmission of HIV infection in PI cases referred to an HIV preventive focal point unit. Patients and Methods: In this prospective study, 369 PI cases who had referred to Razi Hospital of Ahvaz, from 1993 to 2008 were studied. PI cases were placed in three groups: occupational (HCWs), accidental (children) and victims of a crime (women). The data including demographic, occupational, PI incidence place, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and follow-up tests for HIV infection were analyzed in SPSS 16 using chi square test. Results: From a total of 369 cases, 273 (74%) were HCWs, among which nurses (70%) were the most involved employees, followed by surgeons (18.3%) and lab workers (8.4%). Fifty five cases (14.9%) were accidental needle stick (NS) and 41 (11.1%) were victims. Among HCWs, 38 (13.8%) were injured by needles soiled with HIV infected bloods. Only 105 (28.4%) needed PEP, among which 92 (87.6%), including 50 surgeons, 21 nurses and 18 lab workers were HCW. The results of HIV tests in all cases were negative. Conclusions: Although nurses are the most involved occupational group in documented NS, surgeons are the most important high risk HCW who need PEP. No case of seroconversion has taken place as a result of PI.This means that the current PEP may have an effective role in HIV prevention.