Risk of seroconversion for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in San Francisco health workers.

The occupational risk of acquiring acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) virus infection in health workers exposed to AIDS patients and specimens was assessed by a serologic study at San Francisco General Hospital and collaborating research laboratories. A total of 101 medical workers without risk factors for AIDS were examined for antibodies to two isolates of the AIDS retrovirus (AIDS-associated retrovirus 2[ARV-2] and human T cell lymphotropic virus III). Most had heavy, long-term exposure to AIDS patients and 29 had been exposed by needlestick or mucocutaneous accident. None of the 101 had antibodies to ARV-2 by immunofluorescence or to HTLV-III by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western Blot.