Incidence and risk of transmission of HTLV III infections to staff at a London hospital, 1982-85.

In 1982 only two cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and one case of persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (PGL) were diagnosed at St Stephen's hospital in central London. By 31 July 1985, the numbers of cases with these conditions had increased to 41 and 185 respectively and a total of approximately 400 patients had been recognized as having HTLV III infection. A large increase in the numbers of cases of AIDS was noted between July 1984 and July 1985. Over 80 patients with HTLV III infection were admitted to hospital and had surgery or other invasive procedures carried out. Approximately 3000 blood samples from HTLV III antibody positive patients were processed by the pathology department--mainly by the microbiology and haematology laboratories. Hospital and laboratory staff observed hepatitis B precautions. In spite of regular contact with patients with HTLV III infection and their samples, serological studies on 150 hospital staff showed no evidence of spread of HTLV III from patients to staff.