Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 exposures following blood-borne virus incidents in central Australia, 2002-2012

S Hewagama; S Krishnaswamy; L King; J Davis; R Baird

doi:10.1093/cid/ciu227

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 exposures following blood-borne virus incidents in central Australia, 2002-2012

Clin Infect Dis. 2014 Jul 1;59(1):85-7. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciu227. Epub 2014 Apr 11.

Authors

S Hewagama¹, S Krishnaswamy¹, L King², J Davis³, R Baird⁴

Affiliations

¹ Infectious Diseases Unit.
² Infection Control and Prevention Unit, Alice Springs Hospital.
³ Global and Tropical Health Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin.
⁴ Department of Microbiology, Royal Darwin Hospital, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia.

Abstract

We retrospectively audited hospital occupational exposure events over a 10-year period, in a human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-endemic area of Central Australia, and report on 53 individuals exposed to HTLV-1 with no transmissions documented (95% confidence interval, 0%-1.5%). This has important implications for the management of exposures including the role of postexposure prophylaxis.

Keywords: HTLV-1; needlestick; occupational exposure.

MeSH terms

Australia
Blood-Borne Pathogens / isolation & purification*
HTLV-I Infections / epidemiology
HTLV-I Infections / transmission*
Health Personnel*
Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / isolation & purification*
Humans
Needlestick Injuries / complications*
Occupational Exposure*
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis / methods