Recommendations for preventing transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis B virus to patients during exposure-prone invasive procedures. Centers for Disease Control.

The Governor's Subcommittee on AIDS has prompted the periodic publication of articles in the Bulletin in an effort to broaden surgeons' understanding of this significant health problem. The availability of information related to this disease has expanded significantly in recent years, and those in the health care profession have been able to assimilate this information and deal realistically with the problem as it begins to fall into proper perspective. We recognize that much information is not yet available and that, therefore, rational decision making is limited by lack of data. Unfortunately, the disease continues to stimulate undue sociopolitical interest as witnessed by the recent action taken by our national Senate, by media attention, and by public reaction to this attention. Thoughtful insights and decision making have not been hallmarks of the current scene. Following are the long-awaited "Recommendations for Preventing Transmission of HIV and Hepatitis B Virus to Patients During Exposure-Prone Invasive Procedures," which were released recently by the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA. The recommendations are being criticized by some individuals as being either too limited or too excessive. They bear heavily on surgeons, and on the medicolegal climate in which we practice. No matter how you regard the CDC recommendations, we all recognize the universal precautions must be emphasized and followed. The ACS Subcommittee on AIDS is formulating recommendations to be made to the Board of Regents at our 1991 meeting in October. Your comments would be welcomed.