Recommendations: HIV/HBV infected health care workers. Connecticut Department of Health Services.

These recommendations have been developed in response to a congressional mandate and to public concern about transmission of HIV from health care workers to patients. Hepatitis B is also addressed in the recommendations. Both viruses are transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. The likelihood of transmission of HBV is very low, for HIV extraordinarily remote. The following are action steps to reduce this risk further: 1. The commissioner charges the professional associations and institutions to develop plans to educate their members, nonmembers, and employees on universal precautions, procedural modifications, and hepatitis B vaccination. They accept the charge. 2. The associations and institutions are charged with monitoring and assuring the compliance of their members, nonmembers and employees with the precautions. The Department of Health Services health facility licensing programs will incorporate review of infection control precautions into site reviews. Complaints of an institution's or individual practitioner's failure to follow the precautions will be investigated by the Department of Health Services Division of Hospital and Medical Care or Division of Medical Quality Assurance, respectively. 3. The professional associations will submit training plans and progress-to-date to the Commissioner of the Department of Health Services by 30 June 1992 and reports of training and assurance activities on 1 January 1993 and annually thereafter. 4. The department will not list specific hazardous procedures but will judge each case on an individual basis. 5. The department will not require health care workers to undergo HIV or HBV testing. It is recommended that workers who are at risk for HIV or HBV infection because of occupational exposure or personal behaviors be tested voluntarily. 6. The department recommends that infected workers seek advice from a state appointed and authorized review panel. The panel will review the practices of the worker, advise on infection control practices and monitor to assure compliance. Infected workers will be advised regarding notification of patients on a case-by-case basis. Institutional or professional association-based panels can also be consulted.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)