Over 55,000 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infections had been reported to the German Federal Health Council as of December 1992. More than 60% of a total of over 9000 overt AIDS cases has arisen in the five largest urban areas. Patients with open wounds represent a daily risk of contamination for emergency room personnel. In addition to surgical treatment and after written informed consent, we conducted HIV-antibody studies on patients with open wounds in the trauma emergency room of the University Hospital Eppendorf over a period of 6 months. Of 286 patients 220 (77%) consented to the study, and 6 HIV infections were found, corresponding to a prevalence of 2.7%.