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Lack of Evidence of Transmission to Patients

Ban Mishu, MD; William Schaffner, MD; John M. Horan, MD, MPH; Laurel H. Wood, MPA; Robert H. Hutcheson, MD, MPH; Paul C. McNabb, MD

JAMA. 1990;264(4):467-470.

Abstract
In January 1988, 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.

(JAMA 1990;264:467-470)

Author Affiliations
From the Division of Field Services, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga (Drs Mishu and Horan); Departments of Preventive Medicine (Dr Schaffner) and Medicine (Drs Schaffner and McNabb), Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tenn; Tennessee Department of Health and Environment, Nashville (Drs Mishu, Schaffner, Wood, and Hutcheson); and the University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis (Dr McNabb).

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Department of Preventive Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232 (Dr Schaffner).

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