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  • Title: Pressure mounts for CDC to change guidelines for infected HCWs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    Journal: AIDS Alert; 1998 May; 13(5):49-52. PubMed ID: 11365409.
    Abstract:
    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are currently reviewing the guidelines for handling HIV-positive health care workers (HCWs). The Advisory Committee on HIV and STD Prevention and the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee are working together to change these recommendations based on problems arising under the present regulations. Worker's lack of confidentiality in disclosing their HIV status to patients, and ambiguous terminology stating that HCWs should not perform procedures that are exposure-prone, are among the problems that need to be addressed. Current practices have shown that health care personnel with HIV and hepatitis B (HBV) should be dealt with separately, and disclosure of HIV status should not be mandated because the risk of transmission to patients is very low. The group suggests that self-disclosure is warranted in specific cases, and may be mitigated by a supervisor who could oversee the worker's health condition. Additional recommendations include concentrating efforts on preventing injury to health care workers, studying transmission risks for hepatitis C, and analyzing the methods for preventing transmission. Results from a look-back study conducted by the CDC suggest that there is no data to demonstrate transmission between 53 HIV-positive health care providers and their 22,759 patients. The working group also recognizes the need for review panels, but feels that they should be decentralized to fit the needs of individual health care providers.
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