Occupational transmission of human immunodeficiency virus.

As the number of patients requiring treatment for HIV-1 infection has increased, there has been increasing concern among health-care providers regarding the risks of occupational infection. Fortunately, this risk is low and may be made lower by adherence to infection-control guidelines. The incidence of occupational infection with HIV-1, risk of transmission in the occupational setting, guidelines regarding the handling and contact with infected blood and body fluids, and the approach to the occupationally exposed worker are reviewed.