Occupational Exposure to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected Blood in Denver, Colorado, Police Officers

The authors undertook a study of Denver, Colorado, police department officers to measure their risk of exposure to blood and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by type of work assignment and to document how exposures occurred. From December 1989 through March 1991, 137 officers reported an exposure to either blood or saliva, and 42 exposures to blood were independently documented. The overall rate of exposure to HIV-infected blood for medium and high risk assignments was 0.10 per 10,000 person-days. Thirty-two source persons underwent voluntary testing for HIV antibodies, and five (15.6%) were seropositive. Two thirds of the 42 blood exposures occurred in circumstances in which 1) there was little or no time for the officer to put on protective gloves and clothing because the officer was restraining or being assaulted by a suspect or 2) gloves would have not been protective because of penetration by needles. The authors conclude that Denver police officers rarely have percutaneous or mucosal exposures to blood, but when they do, the risk of exposure to HIV-infected blood is quite high. A health department can provide to police officers a number of services: evaluation of an incident involving contact with blood or body fluids to determine whether there was potential for disease transmission; information about modes of transmission and prevention of bloodborne diseases; serologic testing of source persons; HIV counseling for exposed officers and source persons; documentation for worker's compensation claims; and consultation regarding the use of zidovudine for postexposure prophylaxis.