No tie found between dentist with AIDS and infection of 28 of his patients

AIDS Policy Law. 1995 Feb 10;10(2):6.

Abstract

AIDS: In 1990, health authorities concluded that Florida dentist [name removed] infected several of his patients with HIV. But a study released in December, 1994, said there is no proof that a second Florida dentist infected 28 patients of his who have HIV. Researchers said the DNA in the dentist's HIV was dissimilar to that of the patients', and there was no sign the patients contracted the virus from one another through the dentist's tools. Most of the 28 patients who had HIV had sexual or drug-related behaviors that put them at risk for infection. These findings add to the evidence that suggests that there is little risk of HIV transmission from dentist to patient if proper infection control protocols are strictly observed.

Publication types

  • Newspaper Article

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / prevention & control
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / transmission*
  • Adult
  • Australia
  • Cross Infection
  • Dentists*
  • Female
  • Florida
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • Humans
  • Infection Control
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient*
  • Male
  • Patients*
  • Risk
  • Risk Factors
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA