Investigation of Patients Treated by an HIV-Infected Cardiothoracic Surgeon - Israel, 2007

This report describes the case of a cardiothoracic surgeon in Israel specializing in open-heart procedures who was found to be HIV-positive in January 2007, during evaluation for a fever of recent onset. The duration of infection was unknown. A review of the patients operated on by the infected surgeon during the preceding 10 years was conducted under the auspices of the Israel Ministry of Health to determine whether any surgeon-to-patient HIV transmission had occurred. Of 1,669 patients identified, 545 received serologic testing for HIV antibody. All results were negative. These results add to previous data indicating a low risk of provider to patient HIV transmission.