       Document 0699
 DOCN  M95A0699
 TI    Finding suggests AZT therapy may help prevent occupational HIV
       infection. 
 DT    9510
 SO    AIDS Alert. 1995 Apr;10(4):45-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       AIDS/95700222
 AB    A study of health care workers exposed to HIV-contaminated blood
       indicates that preventive zidovudine (AZT, Retrovir) therapy helped
       protect them from infection. The abstract for this unpublished study,
       conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was
       presented in a poster session at the recent Second National Conference
       on Human Retroviruses and Related Infections in Washington, DC. Although
       CDC officials and needlestick experts use caution in interpreting the
       study, it is the strongest evidence to date that AZT has a protective
       effect. The study, the first case-controlled one of its kind, tried to
       identify risk factors for seroconversion among 23 health care workers
       who were infected by needlestick injuries, and 679 health care workers
       who were exposed to HIV by needlestick injury but who did not become
       infected. The CDC has remained neutral in its recommendations for
       exposed health care workers. Stating that it neither supports nor
       discourages preventive therapy, the guidelines do recommend that health
       care workers use any available data to help make their decision.
 DE    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)  HIV
       Infections/*PREVENTION & CONTROL/TRANSMISSION  *Health Personnel  Human
       Needlestick Injuries/*COMPLICATIONS  *Occupational Exposure/ADVERSE
       EFFECTS  Risk Factors  United States  Zidovudine/*THERAPEUTIC USE
       NEWSLETTER ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

