The risk for otolaryngologists who treat patients with AIDS and AIDS virus infection: report of an in-process study.

The risk of contracting acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a concern to otolaryngologists and other health care workers. Failure to appreciate this valid concern is dangerous, but overestimating it may be equally injurious to the delivery of good patient care. We review the data on antibody titers and recovery of cultured virus in blood, saliva, middle ear fluid, cerumen, tears, and nasal mucous. We also report the initial findings of a prospective study of otolaryngologists at the San Francisco General Hospital. It appears that the risk of transmission of AIDS is low and can be minimized by sound infection control measures similar to those for hepatitis B.