Non-sterile injections, contaminated blood, and the spread of HIV.

摘要

Viviana Simon and colleagues (Aug 5, p 489) provide a valuable update on the epidemiology and prevention of HIV/AIDS. However, they do not mention that iatrogenic routes still contribute to HIV spread in developing countries.Data from WHO's Global Database on Blood Safety indicate that, in 2001-02, more than 6 million blood units were not screened for major bloodborne infections, including HIV. Most of these unscreened donations are collected in poor regions of the world, where HIV infection is more frequent and the basic requirements for a modern transfusion system (ie, the collection of a locally sufficient blood supply from non-remunerated donors, within a formal organisational and legislative framework) remain unmet. Transfusions in developing countries are mainly given to young women and children.