Higher risk of HIV transmission during trauma resuscitations.

Despite an appreciation of the potential for blood borne pathogen exposure, compliance of universal precautions is low. While reports of HIV positive rates in trauma patients have varied from 0.15% to 7.8%, the estimated prevalence of HIV in Louisiana is 0.32%. We made use of two unique, complimentary data sources: the Trauma Registry and the HIV/AIDS Reporting System database of known HIV positive patients to estimate the relative prevalence of HIV which may indicate an increase risk of blood borne pathogen transmission to health care workers during trauma resuscitations. In one year, 1031/1159 patients were evaluated from the Trauma Registry Database and 22 similar patients (2.13%) were found in both the Trauma Registry and the HIV/AIDS Reporting System Database. Our prevalence is an indicator of the minimum risk since it is based on only reported cases of HIV and justifies intensification of education and enforcement of the practice of universal precautions.