Skip Navigation
Menu
Letters |15 June 1995

Lack of HIV Transmission in a Dental Practice

David L. Lewis

FULL TEXT
TO THE EDITOR:
In the study of the Miami dental practice [1], only 20% of the patients were tested, allowing one to assess only whether a cluster of perhaps five or more nosocomial infections with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) occurred. Moreover, of the four patients with no identified risk factors suggesting the possibility of nosocomial infection, only two were available for molecular studies.
The authors assumed that “given that intense publicity. most dental patients with HIV infection would have been reported to HRS (Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services).” Approximately 10 persons who suspected that they were infected (most with hepatitis B or C virus, a few with HIV) by dental or medical devices have contacted me. In each case, the onset of symptoms was within expected incubation periods. Their physicians acknowledged that the patients had no identifiable risk factors, but none reported the cases to their state health department or to HRS. Only one patient sought legal advice and tried to report his case to the Florida state health department, but he was told that his physician would have to report it. The other patients would not discuss their suspicions with their dentists or physicians; one would not even inform her spouse and children that she had become infected.
FULL TEXT
PDF
Not Available
Citations
Citation

Lewis DL. Lack of HIV Transmission in a Dental Practice. Ann Intern Med. ;122:960. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-122-12-199506150-00015

Download citation file:

© 2019

×
Permissions

Published: Ann Intern Med. 1995;122(12):960.

DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-122-12-199506150-00015

2 Citations
CONTINUE WITH LIMITED ACCESS
Annals of Internal Medicine
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×
acp link acp
silverchair link silverchair

Copyright © 2019 American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.

Print ISSN: 0003-4819 | Online ISSN: 1539-3704

Privacy Policy

|

Conditions of Use

This site uses cookies. By continuing to use our website, you are agreeing to our privacy policy. | Accept
×

You need a subscription to this content to use this feature.

×
PDF Downloads Require Access to the Full Article.
Annals of Internal Medicine
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×
Access to this Free Content Requires Users to be Registered and Logged In. Please Choose One of the Following Options
Annals of Internal Medicine
To receive access to the full text of freely available articles, alerts, and more. You will be directed to acponline.org to complete your registration.
×