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To the Editor: Health care workers who spend time in developing countries are at increased risk of infectious diseases from occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens (BBPs) due to lack of personal protective equipment, inadequate sharps protection, and reuse of products designed for single use.¹ US-based volunteer organizations that send medical volunteers to developing countries are not required to comply with the safety and health regulations formulated by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration(OSHA) (J. Howard, California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, written communication, March 6, 2002). We surveyed US volunteer health care organizations that provide medical care in developing countries with higher than average worldwide prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to assess their BBP practices and policies.

Methods

We surveyed 124 US-based nongovernmental volunteer health care organizations listed by the International Medical Volunteer Association that provide direct medical care in countries with a prevalence of HIV infection greater than . . . [Full Text of this Article]