ABSTRACT
Rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing for the management of occupational exposure of healthcare workers significantly decreased the number of anti-retroviral post-exposure prophylaxis regimens started whilst awaiting HIV test results. The study confirmed an equivalent performance of the rapid test in comparison with HIV enzyme immunoassay, and suggests it is cost-effective. In addition, two other potential benefits emerged: reducing the number of source patients who remain untested and increasing the number of occupational exposures reported.
Subject(s)
AIDS Serodiagnosis/methods , Blood-Borne Pathogens/isolation & purification , Diagnostic Tests, Routine , HIV Infections/diagnosis , Immunoenzyme Techniques/methods , Occupational Exposure/analysis , AIDS Serodiagnosis/economics , Anti-HIV Agents/economics , Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active/economics , Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active/statistics & numerical data , Chemoprevention/statistics & numerical data , Diagnostic Tests, Routine/classification , Diagnostic Tests, Routine/economics , HIV Infections/enzymology , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Health Personnel , Humans , Immunoenzyme Techniques/economics , Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional/prevention & control , Italy , Lamivudine/economics , Lamivudine/therapeutic use , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Pilot Projects , Zidovudine/economics , Zidovudine/therapeutic useABSTRACT
We prospectively studied 40 patients with uncomplicated optic neuritis (ON) to determine the risk of subsequent multiple sclerosis (MS). All patients were followed for at least 12 years. Ten patients (25%) developed MS. Seven of these 10 patients developed MS within 2 years. Both sexes were at high risk if ON occurred between the ages of 21 and 40. There was an overall increased risk of MS with recurrent ON. The course of MS appeared to be fairly benign during the period of observation.