Four policies to reduce HIV transmission through unsterile health care.

Abstract

Residents of many developing countries face risks for themselves and their families to contract HIV and other bloodborne pathogens during unsterile health care. Helping people to understand and reduce these risks enlists their assistance to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic. To reduce HIV transmission through health care, we recommend four policies that international, foreign, and local public and private organizations can adopt and begin to implement even with little or no additional funds: (1) Educate the public about risks to contract HIV through unsterile health care. (2) Promote transparent practices for injections and other procedures that allow patients to see and know that care is safe (e.g., taking a new auto-disable syringe out of a sealed package and taking injecta from a single-dose vial). (3) Promote safe health care practices equally for clients and staff. (4) Establish a zero-tolerance policy for iatrogenic HIV infections, with publicly reported monitoring and investigations.