Are HIV lookbacks worthwhile? Outcome of an exercise to notify patients treated by an HIV infected health care worker. Incident Management Teams.

This report describes the management and outcome of one of the largest exercises undertaken in the United Kingdom to notify patients exposed to an HIV infected health care worker. Eighty-six per cent (1597/1852) of patients on whom the infected junior doctor in obstetrics and gynaecology had performed surgical procedures were contacted and 1180 women (64% of those exposed) elected to be tested. None was found to be positive. Of those tested, 651 had undergone procedures classified as 'higher risk' and 529 'low risk' procedures. These data provide further evidence that the overall risk of transmission from an infected health care worker to patients is likely to be very low. HIV lookbacks may be worthwhile but we consider that it would be justifiable to notify and offer HIV testing only to patients who have undergone higher risk procedures. The estimated cost to the NHS of this exercise exceeded 200,000 Pounds.