HN INFECTION IN GENERAL SURGICAL PATIENTS AT THE GA-RANKUWA/MEDUNSA COMPLEX SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

Objective: To assess the possible impact of HIV infection on the management of general
surgical patients at the Ga-Rankuwa Hospital.
Design: A prospective study.
Setting: Ga-Rankuwa HospitallMedical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA)
Academic Complex, Pretoria, South Africa.
Subjects: Nine hundred and forty one patients admitted to general surgical wards.
Main outcome measures: HIV infection and CD4 counts.
Results: Nine hundred and forty one patients admitted to general surgical wards from
January 1966 to December 1997 were tested for HIV infection. Twelve per cent tested
positive. HIV positive patients were significantly younger [33 f 10 versus 41 & 7 ( X + SD)
years, Chi-square = 51, p<0.0001]. There was no correlation of HIV positivity to the patient's
sex (p=0.7). In forty three HIV positive patients treated surgically, mortality was attributed
to HIVIAIDS in only one patient with a CD4 count of 471ul who died following laparotomy
for peritonitis. CD4 counts done during follow up in thirty one HIV positive patients revealed
a count of d00lul in eleven patients.
Conclusion: It is predicted that an increasing number of patients with HIVIAIDS will be
admitted to general surgery wards of the Ga-Rankuwa Hospital. Surgeons are advised to
take universal precautions to prevent HIV infection.