Prophylactic zidovudine after occupational exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus: an interim analysis.

Note from Dr. Merle A. Sande--Health care workers are at risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection subsequent to accidental sticks with needles contaminated with blood from infected patients. The risk is small but real. Postexposure management is critically important, but few solid data are available. Can zidovudine (AZT, azidothymidine) prevent infection? How soon after exposure must the drug be given? At what dosage? For how long? Two leading authorities were asked to discuss this problem and to offer recommendations. Both have developed programs in their institutions, Dr. David K. Henderson at the Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health and Dr. Julie L. Gerberding at the University of California, San Francisco.