[AIDS and gastroenterologic endoscopy. Survey of current practice].

Endoscopy has not remained unaffected by the increasing number of AIDS patients. A survey among German gastroenterologic centers has shown that most endoscopists pay close attention to this problem. It may be true that the safety precautions, considered to be necessary by some if a patient's HIV status is unknown, are exaggerated; the procedures undertaken for HIV positive patients are, however, in accordance with the recommendations made so far. The risk of infection is considered to be moderate to minimal, the procedures undertaken until now to disinfect endoscopes are considered to be adequate.